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1028 thoughts on “ROLL CALL”

I remember the Spanish Store on 17th Street & PPW. Right next door to Gerads Bar. With 300 lb. Orlando behind the counter. The entire neighborhood use to play the number with the booky in the back of the store. I use to go around there and get milk , soda & suzie q’s to get back to the stoop & watch the world go by.

Hey, Marty. I went to school with your brother James. Do you remember when you played football for Farrell’s and I almost talked you into playing on the hockey team (Nordiques) too? You were a big dude! – Tommy Ryan

Do you remember the games of “Gestapo” we used to play around PS 154.
How crazy a game was that, you caught and beat the kids from the other team until he gave up his general. And who ever had Johnny Asfar on their team used to win cause he had the meanest charlie horse punch to the thigh in the world. I can still feel it when I talk about it.Ouch!! How about the games of roller ball on bikes in 154’s school yard? We used to take the card board from the refrigerator boxes and whack each other while riding on a bike and called it roller ball from the movie. And lets not forget all those games of Coco-leveo.

Gestapo. Hilarious …. A cross between hide-and-seek and a bar fight. Only in WT.

Anyone remember a hole-in-the wall store called Buppies (Boopies? No clue on the spelling. Never saw it written anywhere.) on 10th Ave., bet. Prospect and 17th St.? Hundreds of dollars on “spaldeens” and baseball cards in there.

Who’s old enough to recall the junk truck that used to come around? The old guy, with about one tooth in his mouth, would ring a string of bells in the open truck cab and yell out “Old rags! Old junk!”

Who remembers the guys, with what are today called “issues,” that alternately terrorized and were terrorized by kids up and down 17th Street? One was known as “Mumbles” (aka “La La”). Another as “Sarge.” How about the one we called “Peaches?”

I remember the junk truck. I remember Jerry’s on the corner of Prospect, but I think Boopies was a little before I remember.

La La, he was a mute. I remember we used to tease him and he used to chase us. Then I remember he used to cry when he tried to communicate with us. Peaches I think was Puglisi’s brother. I think he had a daughter named Gina.
What’s new with you? How is everyone there? My parents are in Toms River now. Getting on in age now, in their late 70’s.

I was reminiscing about childhood games of yesteryear, K. Molloy and remembered that we used to play German Prisoner of War!! It was a game with two teams, the Germans and you. If you were caught, you were very nearly tortured. The parkers airy way was the camp. If kids played that today, they’d be sent to juvie.

jerry`s on 10th and prospect, nat the cleaner on sherman across from the yard- remember running wild inside the pilgrim laundry when it was shut down. john costello went down the wrong shute and out of the building into a pile of bricks. i have to laugh when i think of the driver who came down prospect with the egg truck, hit the seeley street bridge and got stuck. we sent him to find a phone to call his boss and we ripped into his egg cartons made signs and were selling 30 dozen eggs for 5 dollars. we had cases of shitty smittys that night

HI EVERYONE THANKS FOR SHARING, COACH F GOOD POINT, WHY WASNT THERE ANY WATER FOUNTAINS IN THE SCHOOL YARD!!!! MIKE PURDY, ARE YOU THE SINGER IN THE FAMILY, I REMENBER YOUR MOM AND DAD GREAT PEOPLE, THE TRAPPES LIVED NEXT DOOR TO YOUR GRANDPARENTS, AND GREAT GRANDMOTHER, WOW, I REMENBER AS A YOUNG GIRL, YESSSSS I WAS YOUNG LIKE U GUYS LOL COACH WHO ON HOWARD SAID GET THE ROPE, JUST CURIOUS, YES THE BULLOCKS, REAL NICE FAMILY ALSO, KEVIN MALLOY, LOVED COCO LEVEO, AND HARD THE GARISON, AND PUCK PUCK HOW MANY HORNS ARE UP LOL THANKS FOR THE MEMORIESSSSSSS

I remember the scariest house on Howard place was the Zolies. We always thought it was haunted, it was always dark and dingy. And Mrs. Zoli would freak out every once and awhile. I remember they took her out in a straight jacket once. The house was next to the Rutters I think 2 doors up from the Trapps. Do you remember them Betty? I don’t remember him saying anything like “hang em” but that could be because anytime Mr Zoli came out I was usually running away very fast. Looking back I don’t think they spoke good english.

K.MOLLOY AND COACH F I SURE DO REMENBER MR AND MRS ZOLIES, AND YOU ARE RIGHT K. THEY LIVED NEXT TO THE RUTTERS TWO DOORS FROM US. THEY WERE REAL SCARY TO US AS KIDS GROWING UP ALSO, BUT ON A POSITIVE NOTE MY BROTHER BOBBY HURT HIMSELF ONE DAY AND HE COULDNT BELIEVE HOW EMILY HELPED HIM OUT IN HIS TIME OF NEED AS A KID. I WOULD NEVER HAVE REMENBERED THERE LAST NAME, YOU GUYS GOT A GOOD MEMORY. YES ALSO NOT SPEAKING GREAT ENGLISH WHICH I ALSO FORGOT.

Used to play a lot of street hockey, with the metal rollerskates on 11th ave between 16th and the parkside. There used to be a nice gap in the park fence right by 11th, I think the Saxon’s (remember them?) made it with a car jack so they could slip through and get to Suicide easier. Made getting over there easier for sleighriding. Also, it’s on the way to lookout, where Bro John used to run track practice on the “track” which once around was supposed to be a 220. A few of us would go half way and jump in the bushes to get out of running for a while, then jump back in. Remember seeing some funny stuff on that hill in all weather.
Someone mentioned the guy they found outside Connie’s frozen, I remember seeing him shortly after they found him, I think Bobby Cirillo found him all blue.
Anyone remember playing baseball cards? I still remember beating Stephen Keating in a 100er last. I think he’s still pissed. He did have a hell of an arm and if he hit you with a snowball, you knew it. For that matter, a brand new spaldeen hurt as much if it hit you playing swift at 154.

Hi….I remember Hitler very well and the man who painted the presidents on his fence..I remember he had Nixon and Eisenhower. Hi Betty ! I do sing a bit but my sister is the singer in the family.I sing at the Farrell’s parties from time to time. I remember the Trappes very well living next to my grandparents. We played basketball in the school yard one Thanksgiving. There was Gerard and Bobby, my Uncle Bob and my father and us kids playing chose up ball. I remember Sophie very well. At 86 she still had dark hair.
I remember having my first beer in Connie’s Corner on Windsor and 10th Ave. I had it the afternoon of my communion. Connie said I was a man today….have a beer. It’s been downhill ever since. Have to go..beer’s getting warm !!!

The Windsor Pub…. it had more fights there then Madison Square Garden. Remember Nicky and Marie ? They took over the deli on 16th and 10th ave. If they didnt know you Marie would around around from the counter and watch your every movement. Nick looked like Desi Arnaz’z crazy brother who was put away at birth.
Who played army in the lot on Windsor Place and Terrace Place? Unfortunately we had to stop….the rats were getting bigger than us. Found my first Playboy magazine there. …it had rat shit on it though. I thought it was a bunch of malted milk balls. Ahhhh….. the memories of our youth !!!!!

Hitler, As soon as you mentioned him it all came back… Bud, I think it was Buggy Bill’s, where u could get a loosie for.03 cents… Wow Great Memories…

.K. Molloy, My sis was correct Emily Zoli and her husband were very strange people but very Harmless….I remember as kids Emily would walk around the Block with a Pillow under her house Dress and make believe she was pregnant…And yes I was 6 yrs old and I broke my arm on the Tap Court in the schoolyard, I was hanging off the Bar and couldn’t get back to the fence, and fell to the ground and fractured my left elbow. I was afraid to go home and tell my grandmother what happen, because my mom was out shopping. Emily Zoli came out as I was sitting on her stoop and asked me if I was OK, I told her I was waiting for My Mom to come home becaus I didn’t want my Grandma to yell at me…Emily actually took me in the House and let me sleep on her couch and when My Mom came home she woke me up and told me my mom was home.. We went to the Hospital that night and I was in the Hospital for 10 Days, as I remember it. The Funny thing is that school started and I had to Learn how to right, so I started to learn to right Rightie, because of me breaking my arm right before the 1st Grade, I became a Rightie instead of the Lefty I was suppose to be……because of the Broken arm…. So I do Have to say the Zolis deep down inside were probably Good People also……
Mike Purdy, God Bless Mrs Brown, your Grandma and GrandPa. Your Grand Pa was the Best Tipper for Shoveling the Snow… 5.00 a Shoveling and your GrandMa was a Great Tipper for Simonizing the Old caddie…30.00. Great Family, even before all the Tips…..

Bud, you are and have always been the Best… God Bless, Aunt Lizzie, Aunt Mary, and Peggy, and Lucky, the Meeting Place was always right above Clark’s….

mrs Brown yes i remember her Bobby , when i hear the song by Hermans hermit mrs brown you got a lovely daughter i think of her ,by the way i understand she was rich i lived on the corner of prospect ave and prospect park west

I am getting a good laugh reading all this stuff. I used to live on Prospect between 8th and 9th. All of this is bringing back great memories. Remember King Kong. I used to love that ride. The junkman with the horse or donkey yelling “Any old rags, old junk”. The other vendor selling tripe. Buying fruits from the fruitman. My mother would tell me what she wanted and then wrap the coins in a handkerchief and throw it out the 3rd floor window to me to pay. How about the Cascade Laundry. Playing ball against the brick wall in the yard or riding in the big laundry carts until the workers came out yelling.

Joe, I hope you get this message. Its Arlene. I lived on 17th between 8th & 9th ave. Debbie Morton was, and still remains my best friend. Do you remember May Kurdi, Vaughn, Victor, I’m trying to remember all the others. Would love to hear from you.

How about Suicide Hill and Three Devils. How many time did you go down Three Devils and fly over most of the second devil. Scared the crap out of me. And all the people watching below…to see if you smack up. I went down Suicide Hill on a car hood we found nearby. Smack into the big bush directly below the hill. You can’t steer a carhood down an icy hill. If my parents only knew. How many walked the subway tunnels? From Terrace Place and Prospect Ave. to 7th Ave. . We didn’t want to pay 50 cents for a token. If my parents only knew. And skitching in the snow on the back of a UPS truck along 10th Ave or making ramps and jumping over three , maybe four garbage cans with your new Royce Union bike hoping that the only thing you break was a rim. If my parents only knew. Shit…..they do now!!!!!!!!

I remember accessing the tunnel from that spot. There was a huge metal hatch cover that would raise up if you dropped a big heavy rock on it and walked down the dimly lit stairs to the tracks. Very scary stuff! Someone said it was an emergency escape hatch in case of fire.

Does anyone recall the Holy Name Boat Ride to
Bear Mountain.
If I recall we had a private special subway train ride take us to the Boat in Manhattan.
I recall the date June 6, 1966, the day after the
Ed Sullivan Show broadcast The Beatles promo films
of Paperback Writer & Rain.
Anybody’s recollection?
Forever Young

I think the name of the boat was the S.S. Bay Belle . 7th and 8th graders trying to sneak a smoke onboard and getting caught by the Brothers , then having to eat the cigarette for punishment. Bringing your lunch in a brown paper bag and a can of soda wrapped in tin foil to keep it “cold”. LOL !

I lived on 17th st. Went to Holy Name School from 1960 to 1965. I have such wonderful memories. My forever friend Debbie Morton and I would walk along 9th Ave. We’d go to Ray & Otto’s for magazines. I really could go on and on. The concerts in the Park during the summer. I’m going to continue to follow this site. My name is Arlene. If anyone remembers me, please feel free to contact me.

I remember most of what is listed. Its been 29 years since I left park slope I still miss it. wish we can bring back the good old days. When I see Farrell’s Pub it bring tears to my eyes My brother Drew was a long time customer of Farrell’s.

Things I remember from 1955. The Spaldeen wedged way up in the cornice of the Holy Name school building. How it got lodged in there no one knew but it may still be there. Playing hit it by yourself punchball in the HNS schoolyard. You threw the Spaldeen in the air and punched it as far as you could. Home plate was the corner of Prospect and Howard Place and centerfield was the covered walkway between the church and school. Some guys could hit it a mile! Cooking “mickeys” over a fire in the vacant lot at Prospect and 11th. Summers at PS 154 where they had programs/ball games for kids all summer. They called it VP 154 and was staffed by three college students. Two were pretty girls all the guys had crushes on. We had a VP 154 softball team and our arch-rivals were Edgar Leach and Tom Tom from PS 10. Going to Meyer’s ice cream parlor for root beer floats and flirting unsuccessfully with the girls. Watching the Dodgers play ball on TV through the window of Connie’s Corner. Connie had one of the few televisions in 1951 and I remember seeing Bobby Thompson’s homerun that broke all our hearts. Memories…sweet memories!

Thanks for the memories… Remember very well Sam’s- can still remember him writing in pencil the cost of the items I needed and asking me to add them up- for practice- of course I was always wrong- The stories I have told my son about growing up on 16th street- Holy Name – volunteering at “The Home” and family on almost every street on the way to school-that I had the best childhood….. I just recently drove the Brooklyn Queens expressway and my knuckles are still white! Although I had to travel to long island- I was so tempted to pull off at the prospect expressway to just have a look.

Forever Young mentions Mark Shield: Never had the pleasure until I worked as a bartender in Farrells, it was there that I got to know Mark, I will always remember how nice of a guy he was, it was always a pleasure to talk with him, he’d come in for a container and I’d get to chat with him for a little while, he always had something good to say. He past on way too young. May he rest in peace!

I know everybody will remember this. Waiting in line to go to confession and praying that you did not get Monsignor Downing because if you did he would yell out in the church what you did. Remember his summer night strolls along the parkside in full gear.

CONFESSION, yes that was an experience in and of itself, yes praying that I also dont Monsignor Downing, and what a relief, until im all finished up, and ready to go and He says OK Betty have a good day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great memoriessssss thanks

i rememeber cadgee preaching on the corner he was a real nice guy .what about after playing ball during the summer going over to pat bonnilles to have an italian ice remember the big fake cone on the counter

does anyone know where or see any of the following people mike bunderick,tom larkin,myles corrigan,john haugh milo kennedy maryann carlucci lisa pastramo(lindsy) jennifer donovan .I have thought of these people for a long time and was wondering what they are doing know

Hi Bill,
Pat Cain here. Myles Corrigan works as a supervisor for the nycta. He was a motorman for many years before he was promoted. Bunny elrod is back at 39 sherman st. after living in seattle for over 12 years. His mom betty passed away last may ( cancer )
I live in toms river, nj and work for the nycta as a motorman for 15 years.
Woody has a place in jersey and in bklyn and doing great.

Myles Corrigan the last time I saw him was at milo kennedys brothers funeral, Jimmy Kennedy who pass away last year. I saw his mom Mary also what a Lady, and just last month my sister and I were driving down Howard Place and low and behold another Corrigan, Eileen, still as pretty as ever.

Hi Pat Cain………..my cousin tommy ryan will be happy that i heard from you if i remember correctly you and tommy used to hang out, Good hearing from you I was a little younger then you but i do remember your pretty red hair How are your brothers gerald and bobby Hopa all is well

does anyone remember the night bobby lamb was fixing herny chaplins car on howard place and while he was fixiing it he dropped a nut into the engine and spent the night on howard place taking chaps engine apart to find the nut that fell in, They never found it and the car ran great another good guy who passed way to early

bobby i remember birdy the coach of the spartans who had a wax ear and we used to yell at him to stay out of the sun so his ear dont melt. I also remember you dating maryann carlucci and your favorite song of the time Me and Julio down by the schollyard evrytime i hear that song I think about you

BILL I REMENBER BOBBY DATING MARYANN C ALSO, BRIAN D HAS BEEN HANGING WITH HIS GROUP STILL WEARING HIS HATS, AND AS FUNNY AS EVER, OR IS THAT SARCASTISMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!. bILL WHO PASSED AWAY BOBBY LAMB NOT CHAP RIGHT. THIS WEEKEND GONNA SEE JEROME BAYER AND HIS WIFE, AND ABOUT 8 OTHER OLDIES IN THE CITY. EVERYTIME I THINK OF CHAP I REMENBER THERESA!!!!!!!! MEMORIES

Betty, Not sure if you still follow up or if this will get to you but here is a shot. Do you have contact info for Jerome. He and my brother Joe were good friends back in teh late 60’s. Gene.green@gmail.com is my contact

BETTY………….IT WAS BOBBY LAMB WHO DIED WHEN HE WAS ABOUT 35 YRS OLD IN A BOATING ACCIDENT IN FLORIDA BOY WHAT A MECHNANIC HE WAS,hENRYCHAPLIN LAST TIME I HEARD ABOUT HIM HE WAS STILL MARRIED TO DONNA PISCIOTI AND LIVED IN STATEN ISLAND A NUMBER OF YRS BACK I THINK HE HAD A STROKE

dOES ANYONE REMEMBER IN THE EARLY SEVENTIES HOLY NAME HAD A TEEN CLUB THAT ONLY LASTED i THINK 2 YRS AND ONE YR WE WENT ON A SKI TRIP TO THE ROCKIN HORSE RANCH WITH 2 BUSSES AND 90 CRAZY PEOPLE FROM BKLYN. tHE HOTEL HIRED A SECURITY GUARD FOR EVERY FLOOR IN THE HOTEL BECAUSE OF US BEING ROWDY

Here’s another memory. In Holy Name School….while riding the elevator(which resembled the Munster’s coffin phone booth )… if you jump twice in it ,it would break down. You would be trapped and you would miss the rest of the class. If you turned it off and on it would reset itself and out you went. Not to many people knew that trick. I used it on a few occassions. I had my ups and downs.

How about playing KINGS in the schoolyard during recess. Our 6th grade teacher Mr. Jennings use to play along with us. It got so popular we had a few tournaments. And if you lost…BOOTIES UP! I went home from school many a day with Spaulding rings on my ass.

What’s up remember me, I’ts so wierd to see your name after all these years, we had great memories and a great childhood. miss the old neighborhood. I’m married now with 2 girls Brianna and Siena 12 and 9 living on Long Island. Where are you these days.

How delightful to read memories of the old neighborhood! I hadn’t thought about Junkie Joe in eons. I grew up on 16th Street between 8th and 9th Avenue. Oh, those afternoons after school at Wetter’s, having a coke or an egg cream while sharing a laugh with friends. It was a time of innocence.
We actually beleived that the nuns were waiching out their windows or on the roof to see if we were doing something wrong. Each night at nine o’clock the strains of Holy Name drifted over the neighborhood. Does anyone remember the game skellsies? I remember melting crayons in bottle caps to over the pilot light on the gas stove so that the caps were weighted down. You drew a square with smaller squares inside on the asphalt (in the middle of the street of course)Theovjest of the game was to flick the cap inside of each of the smaller squares first to win. So many memories, it is hard to know where to stop.

Tony was a great guy. I sure do miss those days. I am well. Thanks for asking. I want to thank you for this blog. It really brought some cheer into my life. Its great reminiscing about our youth. While we never were rich financially. We sure were rich culturally and were blessed to have a great place to grow up. I would not trade it for all the money in the world.

Your right. Sucks getting old. Seems like only yesterday we were hanging around getting into trouble. Remember that guy Pat who had the pick up truck ? He used to let us jump on the back and drive us around the neighborhood like a maniac. That was fun times ………..

jimmy johnson was from windors near terrace. he was good friends with eddie and kenny krumbholz. he use to say” My main man pots and pans”. a great guy i saw him a few years back then i heard he passed away from a heart attack.

Feeling somewhat nostalgic I decided to browse the net and see what info I could come across about the neighborhood I grew up and still live in. I was sooooo happy to find this blog. As I read, memories of my childhood came flooding back to me. Thanks so much for creating this blog, it really made my day! Here are some of the things I most remember about the best neighborhood in the world!

Truck rides that used to come around during the summer like “The Whip” and “King Kong”

Mike the Ice Cream Man and Freezer Fresh

Hanging out on the steps of the Pilgrim Laundry

Neighborhood Gangs – Huns, Rebels, Jokers

Vomiting all over the bar in Shamrock’s on 17th Street when I was 17 years old on New Years Eve -LOL

Pitching baseball cards on Howard Place after getting out of school at 3:00 (Holy Name)

Hanging out and Playing Guitar on the Parkside across the street from Kalamo’s Grocery Store between 10th and 11tha ave’s.

Hanging out in the Gazebo by the lake in Prospect Park

Tending Bar and practically living at the K of C on 19th Street

Playing football on Richie Costa’s team in Prospect Park (Costa was our coach)

Buying Day Glow paint, stick-on flowers and other paraphernalia at the head-shop on Park Circle.

Playing softball against the Saxons (Porky, The McGovern’s, Big Richie, Little Joe, etc..) for a case of beer.

Holding the record for not attending 1 gym class during my entire junior year at Bishop Ford HS.

Playing block parties with my band and going to watch other neighborhood bands play. Yes all the great musicians that came from our neighborhood; Willy LeComte, Dennis and Richie Orlando, Eddie Essex, Stephen Joyce, Moe Mahoney, John Dudar, Kevin Walsh, Keith Carlson and many many more.

Hey Matt how are you do you remember me I was always with Phil Krudoff we were from 17 st it’s great hearing the old names and peoples memories of the neighborhood does any one remember the candy store on 8ave between 18st and 17st and Petes grocery on the corner of 18st

Those truck rides were the best. King Kong and the Whip. I forgot all about them. I remember the summer’s seemed so long when I was a kid. Remember everyone running out of there houses for ice-cream when the Good humor truck came by. We couldn’t get out there fast enough.

I still see Jerry McGovern serveral times a week walking his dog. He lives around the corner from me on 17th street and yes Emmett, the Band name was “Brew” Willy on bass, Dennis Orlando on Lead Guitar, Richie Orlando singing and Eddie on Drums, I think there was another guitar player but can’t recall his name now.

i have had the pleasure of working at FARRELLs for the last 12 years and i have to say it has been the best experience of my life. HOOLEY ,DANNY, AND TIMMY have been the best bosses anyone could want. when i got hired i was on cloud nine,i will never forget it ,od says to me hooley is lookn for us, we werer both shitn in our pants thinkn we screwed up! od was still workn at smiths at the time and he gets a phone call from hoooley “MEET ME OUTSIDE” hooley pulls up with his big white cadilac and offers od the job, od walks back in with a shit eating grin (he was in) when was my call gonna come im thinkihg. they made me sweat it out for a month than danny popped the question. i said yes and here i am. i have met and worked with the best of the best. you can’t talk about farrells whitout talking about one of the finest men to ever walk in shoe leather (sorry tommy) VINNY BRUNTON. vinny was a father figure to all of us,well me and od and maybe duff. he was a man of few words but when he spoke his words were herd. it might sound corny but i know i come from the best neighborhood in the world,and this neighborhood would be gone without FARRELLS.

Brian and red so true about the neighborhood, we do come from the best neighborhood and Im so proud to know real nice men like Hoolie, Danny, and Timmy. Also Eddie Farrell, who even back when all come from the same mold. When I was about 6 years of age, I was hospitalized for 3 months with Ramatic Fever, and my parents told me that Eddie Farrell bought our family a bed for me. Back then He was always helping our community and being so very generous to many. COUNT OUR BLESSINGS ONE BY ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOW, what a cool site. Bringing back some great memories. Kevin… I do remember playing “Roller Ball” at 154.. that was completely sick. It’s amazing we didn’t break bones. And “hoopscoach” …. Steve, do you remember we were trying to make french fries with your brother and we ended up spilling the oil on your kitchen floor? We had to be 12… and we started “ice-skating” thru your kitchen??? I’m cracking up thinking about it!

Hey Steve, I’m looking at the responses and hows this for some deep neigbhorhood roots; Tommy Bricks Mom Rita (Keys?)Brick hung out with my Aunt Madeline(Molloy)Cunningham way back in the day when they were young girls in our neigbhorhood, to tell you how long sadly my Aunt just passed away at the age of 91 in California. It goes on, my Mom Marie(Hudson) Molloy hung out with Patrick and John Cains Mom Irene? (Davis?) Cain back when they were young girls in the nieghborhood on 8th ave. My family the Molloy’s were tight with the Shaws,Ryans and Deere’s when we all lived on 9 ave over the stores. Big Danny Ryan was always one of my Dad’s best friends. I remember their Grandmother Nanny Ryan very well(she always liked me) and Pops Ryan was quite a character on the Avenue, wow what memories and connections lost in time.

I lived next door to Mr. and Mrs. Ryan at 240 Prospect Park West back in the 50s and early 60s. My grandmother, Lizzie Rose, played cards with Mr. & Mrs. Ryan a lot (Tom and Gladys). My grandmother lived on the third floor. They were very good friends. I remember their son, Danny Ryan. He was married to a beautiful woman. Rita? They took over the card store on 9th Avenue. I believe he was a construction worker. He was a good looking man. Clare Ryan (Deer) is my godmother. I believe, Clare’s husband, Larry, was also a construction worker. They lived on 9th Avenue early on in their marriage and then moved over Ray & Otto’s. Back then the grocery store was owned by Frank and Bertha and then eventually it became a Key Food. The book store back when I lived there was Benny’s the Shoemaker. Lots of gambling went on in there. My grandmother bet on almost anything, horses, baseball, etc. I believe she was the first woman on 9th Avenue who owned a car and had a license. She played bingo at Prospect Hall and worked as a custodian in a school. I always like to go back and walk around the neighborhood. It was the best. I graduated from Holy Name and went to Bay Ridge for six months and then my parents bought a house on Long Island. I went to East Islip High School and completed my junior year. My parents decided to move back to Brooklyn (Seeley Street) and I completed my senior year at Bay Ridge High School. We then moved to 10th Avenue and Prospect. I worked at Travelers Insurance Company on John Street in Manhattan and then got married. Lived on 11th Avenue between Windsor and 16th Street and then moved to 16th Street between 9th and 10th … and then moved back to 11th Avenue. Got divorced after 14 years of marriage. Remarried a NYC Firefighter and moved to Long Island in 1981. Visit Brooklyn as often as I can. It gives me a good feeling. Back then it wasn’t Windsor Terrace … it was Park Slope.

Steve,
Michael is still an Iron worker and working at the new shea stadium (citi field). I believe from the beginning. His son is 18 now. His wife Maureen just passed away.She had heart problems. John’s with the NYCTA for 15 years (motorman). His son is 12 now.

hey junior, hearing the name vinny conlon thats a blast from the past this is a great site; do you remember steve rozakis and the 67 chevy. i’m sure that rings a bell,hope everything is good with you; talk again soon

remember carl,s fruit store directly across the street from farrell,s worked there for two hours one day he paid me a nickel. how about the brothers from holy name Vinny, Duane Aloyicious, Gardentious;Got my ass beat by them many times my dog kept eating my homework. Great idea Red knew your whole family hope all is well.

WOW, the 67 Chevy, now that’s a great memory, there are not many people who will remember that and that’s right Vinny was the other guitar player in Brew. Soooo Good to hear from you. Drop me an email anytime: sal@teknoms.net

does anyone now what happened to maryann carluci and gina of 17th st and 10th ave .I spent many good times with them and have fond memories of there mothers meatballs. I couldnt go to there house without there mother making me eat meatballs. What good memories and i still havent had a better meatball so if anyone knows thre whereabouts please let me know.I remember a funny story from 1973. I had a day off from school so maryann decided that she would cut school that day to hang out.At the time she went to bishop kearny High school and had to wear a uniform to school and we were figuring out how she could cut school and hide her uniform so she wouldnt have to wear her uniform all day while cutting classes so we decided when my mother left to open up the card store next to smiths funeral home i would sneak her into my house and she would change out of her uniform and leave her uniform at my house until it was time for her to go home from school.she changed and we hung out for the day. Little did I know that sometime during the day my mother made a trip home and found maryanns uniform on my bed. Of couarse she thought that we had sex so she called maryanns mom to tell her what she found.When it was time for maryann to change back into her school uniform she chamged and i walked her home like a normal day. When we got into her house her mother was crying telling us that she spoke to my mother and what my mother had found. There thinking was that if her clothes were on my bed that we had sex We promised her that nothing happened which nothing did happen it was just innocent fun and that they had dirty minds/ I still laugh when i think of that day

another funny story growing up in windsor terrace.One night in the late 70s me jimmy routhier and richie deere were hanging out having a few beers in farrells when we decided to go to a club in the city. usually we would We were meet a farrells have a few cheap beers before going out to the mustard seed in bay ridge but this night we decided to go into the city being that jimmys parents were away for the weekend and his house was empty,We figured it would be easier to pick up some girls in the city.We went to this club and jimmy and richie picked up these 2 girls and talked them into coming back to jimmys house for the night.We had a really good night and finally around 10 am sunday morning the girls decided it was time for them to leave.It just so happened that 1 of the girls were balck and back in those days things were a lot different when it came to color.it was now sunday morning 10am and people were all going to church and we were trying to figure out how to get these girls out of the house without the neighbors seeing.We decided to call a car service and that i would wait outside and when the car service arrived and the coast was clear we would get them into the car. What memories I sure jimmy and richie remember that night well

I still see Maryann from time to time on 9th ave. Next time I see her I will tell her about this site and give her your regards. By the way, do you have a sister named Madeline? We were pretty good friends and I wound up marrying one of her friends, Janine.

Hi sal………yes I do have a sister named madeline and another karen I am also first cousins with the ryans danny thomas susan and kathy. Madeline is married and has 2 children and lives upstate by windam. Please do send maryann my regards and tell her to check out the website.

Sad to say but Nick Fucci senior just passed away this year in Toms River N.J.(I think he was 82). They lived right across the street from my parents in Toms River N.J. Mrs Lucy Fucci passed away there a few years ago not too long after my Mom. They were life long friends. My Dads still their. As far as I know Nick Jr is doing well and Living in Long Island.

SORRY TO HEAR THAT HE WAS A GOOD MAN HE ALWAYS TOOK CARE OF THE HUNS I CAN RECALL WE HAD A TEEN CLUB ON THE PARKSIDE BELOW SEELY ST HE WAS OUR CHAPERONE HE WOULD LOOK OVER US AT NITE MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS SAFE BUT U KNOW AS KIDS WE ALWAYS TRIEDTO GET OVER WE WOULD DRINK BEFORE COMING DOWN TO THE CLUB. WE WOULD GO IN HIS CANDY STORE TRY TO STEAL A PIECE OF CANDY HE WOULD CHASE U WITH HIS BUTCHER KNIFE OR HIT U ON THE TOP OF UR HEAD WITH HIS FIST SO ANOTHER GOOD MAN GONE WE HAD GREAT TIMES WITH NICK HE WILL BE MISS GOD BLESS NICK N LUCY FUCCI

Wow, I know this is an old post, but I have to say I’m sorry to hear Nick and Lucy passed away(I didn’t realize they were that much older than my parents, my mom turned 75 this year) Some of my fondest memories are of going to Nick’s for penny candy (the licorice pennies were 2 for a penny!) Also, for years the Fucci’s had a table next to us at the CYO Surf Club in Coney Island. I guess that must be well over 40 years ago!

Kevin where on long island is nick jr ive live in wantagh levittown for 25 yrs and now franklin sq and garden city. Everyone HAPPY NEW YEARS AND HAVE A WONDERFUL NEW JOURNEY ONE DAY AT A TIME. 2008 WILL BE A GREAT YEAR FOR ALL.

Hey guys, great blog, thanks for all the laughs and great stories. One of my fondest memories would be hanging out at the Wollman skating rink in the park. Two of the neighborhood guys had jobs there as skate guards and we used to sneak through the fence or J & M would let us in for free.
We would skate the morning & afternoon sessions from 11AM until 4PM and stagger home to a hot dinner. My aunt got me a good pair of skates and I practically wore them until my toes came through. I still go with my sweetie on weekends and now see 2nd & 3rd generations of kids from our area skating & falling. Admission has gone up since then but it’s still a blast!

Wow Love all the comments. Made me think of so any things, that i miss the most about the neighborhood. Boy its sure has changed.
Boy-o-boy I can recall the nights of hanging out on the avenue or inside Prospect Park favorite liquor with friends. Then getting chased by Tommy Doyle .

Hey Billy Shaw, Yes i grew up and was best friends with your cousin Tommy ryan and his sister Kathy. I was also friends with your two sisters madeline and karen. They were great people and remember many good times with them. Please tell them i said hello.

HEY TIMMY U REMEMBER ME CAPO, HUNG OUT WITH YOU ROACHY ROCKHEAD WILLY HUGUOEN..LOVE THIS BLOG CAME ACROSS IT N NOW I CANT STOP READING… HOPE ALL IS WELL WE ALL SHOULD TRY TO GET TOGETHER.. COLBD ONES AT FARRELLS.. LET ME KNOW…

It was terrific to read all the stories about the old windsor terrace gang. I spent a couple of years there too, 1963-1991. Hopefully next week When I have time I’ll post a few stories of my own. Until then, have a healthy and happy New Year PDQ

Bill Shaw, Yes I have An older brother Danny one of seven Quirke children.

Tom Brick, It has been a long time since we have seen and spoken to each other. Hope you are doing well. I now live in Chester, NY with my wife and 2 girls, 13 & 7. Still working as a fireman in the Bronx. How are things with you?

I want to give a shout out to the Holy Name cheerleading team from 1977-1979, coached by Gina Dwyer! Some of us were…Mary Kawas, Jane Harte, Gerry Craig, Eileen McBrien…just to name a few. It was a blast!

This is a great blog! The link was sent to me by Bobby Carey. Bobby and I were Holy Name grads in 1950. You all seem to be of my nieces’ and nephews’ generation. I’m going to send the link to all of them.

I saw my nephew Jake in that photo of the HNS kids in 1956.
It was such a wonderful school. I had members of my family attending Holy Name from 1936 until 1996–60 years!

It’s just great reading all the memories of the old neighborhood.
Whenever the Corrigans get together, Holy Name and “the neighborhood” always come up as good topics for reminiscing.

I’m the younger sister(Kathy) of the Hopkin’s clan my brother’s are Jake, Charlie, Hanky and Billy. my sister’s are Floann and Judy.
I remember Bohack on Prospect avenue I use to go there with my mother with the shopping cart or my father with the car grocery shopping and also going to my grandmother house on 16th street and 10th ave. stright to the candy store on the corner to get penny candy I don’t remember the name of the store so if anyone remember’s please let me know.
All the woman had to go thruogh the back door in Farrell’s and also on ST. Patrick’s Day the bar served corn beef and cabbage dinner it was YUMMY.
Red’s shoe store my mom use to buy my shoe’s for school in there and red was so nice.
And I can’t forget my friend Joanie Ward we use to go to Associated Grocery store on 9th ave and knock all the stock off the shelf’s Tony and Abe use to chase us out of the store it was very funny the things we use to do.
does any one remember LaLa, the man that use to come around and try to talk, and the kids use to make fun of him I never did I was a good girl.
Coin’s clearner’s carl’s fruit store joe’s cand store with big tall man and the little guy joe, and the old drug store were connecticut muffin is now, if any one can help me with the name of the drug store. they guy I foregot his name.
The butcher shop next doorof farrell’s the remember some of the guys that use to work in there….Geroge, Tony, Billy and Walter, there the only that I remember.
Not to mention the rides half of moon and the whip and the good humor truck that use to come around.
yep you can’t beat those day’s I would love to have those day’s back.
well if there is anything else I will put on here.
Good bye for now.
Kathy.

Kathy We use to live next door to you at 433. Billy and I are the same age. How is he doing. My brothers Joe and Danny were the same age as your brothers and hung out together. You may know my sister Regina as I think you guys were the same age. I have lots of great memories from 16th street. Billy was a drum player back when and your Dad drove a cab. I remember he would do white Castle runs in the summer. gene.green@gmail.com

no pharmacy on bartel pritchard square tonys ethic pharmacy and clarks candy store on 16 st and 10 ave and dont forget sepes on 9 st and 5 ave bictfords 10 st and 5 ave burts windsor pl and ppw before the hardware store. the mountain of snow on ppw king of the hill.

Hi, Kathy Hopkins (Sanchez), I was the goddaughter of Bill and Pee Wee Lordi. Spent a lot of time playing with their daughters, Delores, Joanie and son Billy and their dog, Rupert. We have probably met in the paste. I remember your mom, Florrie very well. She had a great laugh! Make sure you check out the photos of your brothers in the second grade on this blog. My mom and dad bought your grandmother’s house on sixteenth street near tenth avenue

Maureen, You probably know already since Hankie came to the funeral, but my mom passed away and we buried her on Thursday. She had many sweet memories of Pee Wee and Bill. So do I. They felt like family.

So good to hear from you, Maureen. I was telling my mom last night about hearing from you on these diaries. She will be tickled to hear your memories. I don’t specifically remember the story about Rupert eating the twenty bucks but it certainly sounds like a great story from the neighborhood. I used to love sitting out on the stoop on those hot summer nights with Pee Wee, my mom and Mrs. Mancinelli? who was Pee Wee’s neighbor. Oh the laughs we used to have. Pee Wee was always such a blessing to me. When I came back to visit with my daughter when she was small, I was lamenting to her how I thought Sarah would miss out on the commraderie of our neighborhood. I always remember her encouragement. She told me not to worry about it because even if I moved back to New York, the neighborhood experience would not be the same. She was right. My daughter has wonderful memories of her elementary, middle school, high school years here in Washington. And she loves visiting New York.

I remember Mrs. Mancinelli. She was a British “war bride” as we used to call the girls our boys married “over there”. She had some great stories and superstitions she used to share. A lovely and memorable lady.

Our kids will never have close to the experience we all share. Now its ‘play dates’ and IM. No more stick ball in the street. No more mob of kids meeting at the schoolyard and organizing the ‘game’. btw- somehow everyone played. etc. The whole experience! Too bad. 😦

btw- A couple of names and places I haven’t seen here:
Bonali’s
Crazy Joe Carrar (sp) (He’s still around!)
The Park House

And yes. Finn and I were the only KC fans in the nabe. The abuse we took!

Bonalli’s Italian Ice on a breezless summer afternoon or evening. Chocolate, Pistachio,Cherry and the Lemon that was always the last option when the other favorite one’s ran out.
Parkhouse or Pakhouse as the Greek owners use to say relied on the teens of the neighborhood to keep them in business. Remember the front booth that everyone wanted so that you could people watch. The elderly waiter,Pete would say, “Nize to see you, hey,hey” I remember he brought a corn muffin still in the wrapper but it was warmed before there were microwaves without it being open or burned. Never could figure out how he did it.

Hoopscoach, this is a great site you got going, hope all is well. I got a great photo of the football team the nads. You are in it, I will send it to you through your email, Pete Vega is in it, God rest his soul,.
by the way ,mike purdy, That camaro of yours got us in a lot of “good” trouble.Will be back.

I was in Farrell’s watching the Giants-Cowboys game on Jan. 13th when nature called. I was amazed to see that the Men’s bathroom had a complete overhaul. The two tall urinals are gone along with the two old toilet stalls. I think a tear fell from my cheek. I didn’t want to pee. I thought I was in another place and time. The bathroom looks great…very white and clean. If you stand at the bar outside the bathroom, all you smell is new tile and grout… not the smell of a dump from a 70 year old man. Times are definately changing. I’ll miss those huge urinals. They were so big I use to throw a penny in the one I was using and make a wish…the wish never came true….you could still smell the dump of a 70 year old man. But not anymore. I did pee that night and the Giants won. I guess it was a good night. But the urinals are gone and gone for good. My pee’s will never be the same.

In answer to the question asked by Kathy Hopkins Sanchez, the drug store on PPW was Ethical Pharmacy. It was owned by Tony when I was a kid and later bought by Frankie Ozalas who was from 15th St. near 9th Ave. He later moved it directly across the street to a much larger space. I wonder where Frankie is today. By the way, Kathy, I graduated from Holy Name with your brother Hanky. He was my graduation partner. I remember wanting my partner to be Kevin Coyne (who I had a crush on at that time). I missed him by one person. Of course, I blamed Hanky for being 1/4 in. too short.

Tony who had Ethical Pharmacy was such a nice man. He made you feel that no matter what health problem you had he would be able to help you in some way even if it were only to give you some emotional support. He was afflicted with the same disease that Michael Jackson had so over the years he lost the pigment in his skin. Did not make a difference because he was so beautiful and loving on the inside. Thanks Tony for your pharmacy’s ministry to our neighborhood.

I was in the mood for a cherry slush recently and it reminded me of buying one at Bonali’s and getting a pretzel rod to go with it!
My friends who are not from our neighborhood just don’t get it and think I’m crazy when I say I want a slush and a pretzel rod. How sad for them!!

Yeah. I asked for a soda and a frankfuter when I first came out here to Washington 35 years ago, the clerk looked at me like I had a hole in my head. “You want baking soda?”
What he understood was pop and a hotdog. No real bagels or delis. Pizza with bacon and pineapple!!!! Real culture shock. Over the years the area has become better with baked goods. Many people from NY have come out and established businesses so that other transplants can get a taste of the good stuff. How nice it is to turn people on to those comfort foods. Still they always taste better in NY.

Hello Carol, How are you I was happy to hear from you yes these are great memories that we all have of Park Slope we had everything right at the plams of our hands and didn’t have to go to far for anything.
Does any one remember the bowling alley near the stables around near PPSW that was a nice little bowling alley and great food, and the Roller Rink I can’t remember were exactly but I know it was near the bowling alley.
I was telling my Cousin Joan Lordi and she was so happy to hear that everyone was on here writing there memories, I was telling her names of some people on here and she said Oh My god really carol was on there too and betty trapp she said that great that we can communicate with each other and actraly find each other.
Ok well I’m getting ready to watch the GIANTS game and have to finish cooking the Hot Wings and make the salad and taco’s.
Talk to you all soon.
Kathy.

Hi Aunt Maureen, How are you doing, my brother Billy sent this site to me I just love it I read all the blogs the memories it’s great I want to see if I can send this site to my sister floann I think she will like it.
I hear from fran and katie from time to time it’s great to hear from them I hope there doing well
I will send uncle bill the picture that he asked for, this week I promise I been so busy and the days are getting shorter.
Ok well I have to start making my Hot Wings and salad and tacos and watch the GIANTS game.
talk to you soon,
Love your neice Kathy.

Well the folks from Wndsor Terrace have to be estatic tonight. I heard the screams from Farrells Bar & Grill. THE GIANTS ARE GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL! We were happy when they beat Dallas, glad they were going to Wisconsin. Even though we wanted to believe, back in our minds we truly hoped they wouldn’t get blitzed. Well we do belive now just like the days in the 60’s when we would ride the “D” train up to Yankee Stadium, say “Two for Tom” and hope the scout wasn’t looking, and go through the turnstile. We stood for three hours, had a blast, then we all went to Logans Bar to celebrate. Good times, good folks -many gone- but these times cheering for the Giants will always be remembered

Yeah, the Giants won! Whooo hooo! It was close but they pulled through at the last minute. I vaguely remember the bowling alley. I remember going there and getting very poor scores, Like 10! I do remember with pleasure going to the roller rink. I remember that they had a organ player that played music while we were skating around the rink. We got plenty of practice after learning how to skate on the street. Remember those skates that clamped on to our shoes and needed tightening with a key? Taking advantage of the gradual incline and smooth surface on 8th Avenue between Windsor Place and 16th street when they redid the sidewalk by the Little Sisters of the Poor home gave us plenty of practice. How often did we have a ball go over the wall into their back courtyard as we played with Spaldeens we would hit off the edges of the wall to make it pop up to hit or catch? The fire hydrant was right by your house that we used to play in on those scorching hot days. How about Billy and Bobby Porkoney? I can still see Bobby’s lumbering gait coming down the street. A big guy with a great sense of self deprecating humor and a big heart. It was always a joy to run into him. My mom reminded me that their mom worked at the Parkhill restaurant on the corner of 16th and 9th Avenue. Those were the days…….

I went to Holy Name with Lisa Pastramo. Nice girl. Sorry, I don’t know where she is now. Does anyone remember the dentist Dr. Fleischer? He did everything, ex-rays, cleaning, etc… I don’t think he had a receptionist either. I remember getting novacaine and then having to wait in the waiting room until you felt numb. He was nice but I think that’s why I fear dentist’s it was always so depressing in there.

talking about dentists does anyone remember dr rosenstien who had a office on the corner of proscept and 9th ave above the lunchonette.I remeber one time sitting in his chair and him taking the water hose that they put in your mouth and letting my mouth fill with water to see what i would do when my mouth filled with water. when my mouth filled with water i lturned to my side and spit the water all over the floor and he broke out laughing

wow, my nephew in virginia just sent me this site….he sent me the
picture of my husband chubby in second grade…we are lucky to have a copy of it….oh the memories….bachman’s…i grew up on 16th street’just
below 10th and would run to bachmans for a bag of chips 5 sents and
bag of m&m’s also 5 cents….of course i remember the junk food….
prospect park….sledding down suicide at night….hanging in parkhouse
w/friends grace gormley, pat rail…joanie destafano. eleanor rail…was
the best neighborhood to grow up in….everyone knew everyone else..
and watched out for each other….chubby and i ususally go back every
march for the irish american day parade…each year there are less and
less people that we know….but it is always good to go back and walk
around….restores the soul!!!….

Over Twenty Club. Back in the early sixties when I returned from service I went to a meeting of the Over Twenty Club. Up on the stage were Pat Grace, Grace Lyons and Ann Cosgrove who gave my self and Chubby Brady permission to start the Sunday morning Coffee Club. For the next 10 years or so we enjoyed ski trips, New Years Eve Dances. Communion Breakfasts, theater parties, dances, bowling and other social activates.
Windsor Terrace and Holy Name was part of my life for nearly fifty years.
Being born on 15th. Street (in the Strand) and moving to 17th. Street. I remember Mark’s Bakery, Ebengers, Rosso’s Grocery store on 17th. Street, Haber’s Drug Store, Gay’s Deli on 10 Th. Avenue, Meyers Ice Cream Parlor replaced by Wetter’s. I remember Miss Lynn (4th. Grade) Miss Hubbard (3rd. Grade) Bro. Waren. Bro. Jan, Brother John of the Cross. The neighbor has not lost any of its charm.

Hi Allan,
In the 60’s I also had Miss Hubbard and Lynn in 3rd and 4th grades. I can still remember every time Miss Hubbard would walk down the isles in the classroom, her perfume would almost knock you unconscious HAHA! Then she used to dig her long fingernails into your arm when you did something wrong. Great memories!!!!

I remember Holy Name in the early 50’s. The boys had nuns and women teachers (Miss Lynch and Miss Lynn) for the first four years and Xaverian Brothers the last four years. Once you hit the fifth grade and you met Brother LaSalle or Brother Damian you knew the world had changed! But the last two years were like boot camp. Brother Augustine and Brother John of the Cross were strict, no nonsense guys who were like drill instructors. Very formidable men who also were great teachers. My block (Windsor between 10th and 11th) had a lot of kids and half of them were geniuses! I think it was the Tablet that used to post the highest ranking students twice a year and my block was well represented. I never made the cut and I truly thought I was brain damaged! Next door to us was the Bannon family and all the Bannon kids made the “deans list” every year. Three doors down was Charles Hamilton who had a 100 average every year. Further down was one of the Galligan kids and Arthur Kneafsey who made the list every year as well. Bill Anton whose father owned Anton’s Deli near Farrell’s was another genius (and a terrific athlete) was always near the top too. You could really lag behind in a hurry trying to compete with that crew.

We came from 512 17th St…my father and mother sold and we went to Flushing Queens…my cousins remained at 510 17th st..his name is john piccolino with a sister Diane and brother Larry . My husband comes from 10th st and 9th ave. went to john jay. Says he never ventured over to 15th 16th or 17th st. You stayed in your own neighborhood. Today we are both in Brooklyn all the time visiting our son and his family. I too have memories of the summertime rides, pony rides, Charlotte ruse , our street games. What a great time.

Just popping in to say “HI!” to my niece Cathy Rohde and my nephew Charlie Hopkins…so good to see you here. Holy Name was the best, and the neighborhood was a great place to grow up. The Bachman’s people were so nice…after old Mr. Bachman retired, his relatives took over…Erni and Rudi and their sister. Lovely people.

Schwartzie owned the candy store below Tenth when I was a kid. His son Marvin had a crush on me and would run out to wait on me whenever I walked in.

A Big SHOUT OUT!!! to Allan Maloney, one of my contemporaries. Props to you, Allan, for remembering the names of the store owners when we went to Holy Name, circa 1942 to 1950. Marx’s crumb cake was the best. Ebinger’s strawberry layer cake was my favorite. Remember the line outside Ebinger’s on a Saturday morning? All the mothers would go straight from daily Mass to Ebinger’s to stock up for the weekend, and to share the neighborhood gossip.

Weren’t you an altar boy, Alan? Do you still remember your Latin?

Do you remember my best friend Margie O’Toole and her sisters Eileen and Theresa? Everyone knew Margie, as she was the evening receptionist at the Rectory. I would visit her there some evenings and Bishop Boardman would tell us to go into the kitchen and have some ice cream. For a Bishop, he was a regular guy. That’s because he grew up in The Terrace.

Hi Paul, Yes, my family used to live on sixteenth between 9th and 10th Avenue. My family has migrated over to Staten Island. Billy is married with a son, John who is very interested in ANY kind of ball playing but particularly likes basketball and football. Billy has been coaching and is very involved in his teams. Coming from our neighborhood I would not expect anything less. I certainly will let him know that you are sending your regards.
Carol

Has anyone blogged about Harry the Barber yet ? He was great. For four bucks you’d get a great haircut. And with all the tonics and aftershave he had lying around…you’d walk out of the shop smelling like a medicine cabinet.
And if you were lucky….while waiting for your haircut, you’d walk over to get a comic book from the shelf and under all the comic books you might find a Playboy magazine. The closest I got was the cover. Instead of a bunny…I ended up with Spiderman. If I remember correctly…didn’t Harry look like Boris Karloff ? Or was that Otto.

Paul Quirk, another real nice family from our neighaborhood. I went to school with Teri and Kathy what a sense of humor just like the bunch of you!! Paul I want to get in touch with Teri please let her know ok. thanks

hi Betty thank you for the kind words about our family. Here is my e-mail address PDQ27@optonline.net send me your e-mail address and I will send you Terry’s phone number. Hope all is well in the Trapp family. Hey coach nice job with the Nads football photo, but I would bet a dollar it was in the 70s not the 80s. Unfortunately two guys in the photo have passed away I just recently heard of Joe passing away and you know about Pete on 9/11, two great guys we will miss them. hey Mike couldn’t tell you anything about Harry the barber. Mom mother used to cut my hair couldn’t you tell.
Will be back soon PDQ.

Bobby Trapp let me know about this blog and I see his sister, Betty and brother, Gerry have left comments here. I have a theory that all the Trapp’s were good at b-ball because they lived by the courts, lol. Betty, I use to go to your games and you were so good at those bank shots and as a player that I think you were embarassed by your talents. I was from 17th St and 10th ave. and lived across the street from the Quirke’s and we played near the Pilgrim Laundry with Danny and Dorothy and my late sister, Valerie. Later on, “Our gang”, consisted of Robert “Mickey” Mikolajczak, Alex Batista, Joanne Slavin, Gloria Polanski, and Joyce Cuttita. After playing stick ball against the walls of Holy Name school, yes that was a strike, see the chalk marks on the spalding, we would hang out with the girls. I enjoyed going back to the neighborhood when we had the 2 reunions at Bishop Ford. One was the basketball reunion in 1989 and the other not long ago in the evening. I thank the person responsible for this venue and I can be reached at gtaranto@verizon.net and love to all. Eddie Veriker gave me a copy of the Holy Name Church Youth News from 1966 and I will try to pass it on to all.

Holy Cow!
I am seeing names I havent thought about in years!
Tommy Brick! wow! Remember camping with my dad and brothers? Still have the pics somewhere. And all the days in our pool with Eddy, Richie, Dee etc…too much fun
Matt Bullock! Hope your family is doing well…Its been years! How is Doris?
Paul Quirke…we are only living about 45 minutes from each other- yet only see each other at neighborhood functions- it figures!
Hope all is well with you guys and everyone else posting
Please feel free to email if you want to touch base with me or the rest of the Slavin crew ~ eileenpmac@aol.com

Gerald so nice to see you once again! As usual you articulate so well! Mrs.Gruschow and Kevin Fogarty would get on me for the same reason you mentioned, but I must say, I like how you put it the best!!! Yes alot of good memories whenever we would go over to 17st. and see how the other side of town was doing!! About your theory Gerry, growing up I would always refer to the school yard as our “PLAY PEN” !@!!! So many things occured in the school yard, so many hours spent, so manys friendships made, so many memories cherished!! My heart feels for you and your family Gerry, whenever I think of you and Valerie!! Please know I do pray for you!! One christmas at Bobbys, I had the privilege of talking with Valerie and the both of us sharing, and her talking about her life reinforced to me just how SPECIAL she is, not many people could do what she did, concerning family.What a Lady!!!!

Betty-I still cry for my Val, and I was hoping we were on your pray list. She was a hard working woman with a flair on all she touched. Her daughter, Emma, is attending college in Brooklyn and studying dance and sports medicine. Her son, Colin, is an artist who has sold many of his creations and will be moving to Oregon. Their Dad, Al, is taking an expedition to Antartica this month, no really! Do you remember how you use to say I had hand trouble and I thought to myself that I never felt anyone up yet. What you meant was that I was always touching people and tapping them. Do you remember Theresa Rignola? When you graduated the 8th grade, were you the last on line when you lined up with the opposite boy/girl to have that first dance with. I was the last on line since I was 6ft since the 6th grade and never grew an inch more. Now I’m shrinking. Love ya, Betty!

Steve-I saw one of your commentaries about Converse sneakers and it made me smile. I never had the right pair of sneakers that were “in”. I finally got a pair of white Converse and everyone else had swithched to the black ones. I should have paid better attention. Anybody out there hear from Brother John. He use to try and talk us into the brotherhood anytime he could.

Hey Hello Eileen and Hi to Lisa Saba, doing well and the family is good. The Farrells football league is getting together this week or next, i`m not sure when but my brother Billy told me they are. He said he was looking forward to seeing Charlie Morale among all the others. He`s been sick but says if Charlie Kawas wants to race hell still beat him – lol

Gerald you have some memory!! When I asked you about your hand trouble, was it in fun or was I upset about it!!!! You are funny! Theresa R the last time I saw her was about 10 years ago when I had some oldies over to my home in Wantagh Long Island and she came. One day I was in a mall and I hear this yelling, BETTY TRAPPPPPPPPPPPP, it was Theresas sister Mary married to Teddy. She has not changed one bit and we had a nice talk, funny or what. Last or next to last and I remenber Brother Gardenius saying to Eddie Keyes and a couple of guys, move over Betty doesnt bite!! Yes I hated being that tall in the 8th grade, but today I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have come to embrace how the Lord made me, finally!!!!I no longer am embarrased by my gifts!!!!!!!!!!! Gerald always a pleasureeeeeeee.

Gerry Toranto, he was our Big guy Growing up. Yes he was the Center at about 5′ 10 in the 5th or 6th Grade, and about 6 ft Wide… Gerry you set a good Pick. Those were the Beginning Days of when we learned to Compete with all the Good Team in the CYO. Even though everyone thought of Gerry as a Awesome Baseball Player, which he was, I think you told me Gerry You Loved Basketball more. I can remember playing in the Championships for Brooklyn with Gerry, Danny, Alex, and I think Johnny, Bobby,Danny and others, we could have very easily lost by 30pts, Playing against a front line of 6’6″. 6’3′ AND pOSSIBLY, 6’2″ at the age of 10 or 11, yea exactly lets check those Birth Cerificates….. I THINK SOME OF THE PLAYERS WE PLAYED AGAINST BACK THEN WERE; TONY STYLES, WAYNE LASANE, BIG IRA AND MAYBE CLARK BAR..Anyway We didn’t win the Game but it came down to the last 2 minutes and I think the score was about 28-25 and I think if the 3 pt shot was in back then we would have had a shot… But Yes Gerry was our big Man back then….. I think Gerry might have had a Pretty good influence on one of our All City Baseball players that came out og HNS and than was Mr Charlie Alberti….Good to hear from you Gerry, thanks for the Magazines, Gerry…..

Betty, we were always laughing at each other and the more you giggled, the more I would bother you. You mentioned seeing Mary and that brought back a memory of dealing with the big sister. When you liked someone you would say “will you go out with me” and that would start an official date of going “steady” and then when the word got around that you weren’t doing too good as a couple, one of you would call it “quits” and just walk away. Divorces should be as easy.
Bobby, thanks for the kind words. I didn’t even know what any ball was until transferring into HN in the sixth grade. If it wasn’t for your corner shots, it would have been embarassing. I remember how you use to flick your hand before and after the shot. I have played b-ball as an adult in one of the local schools in NJ from 1977 until my achilles tendon came off the bone last year. I still can’t shoot but honed the other skills. According to that 1966 paper I sent you, our team had Eddie Vericker, Mike Rash, Mike Moore and you and me. Coach Kent protested the Visitation team and we won the Deanery. Mickey McNally had Danny Conlon, Bob Piesz, Johnny Cregg, Alex Batista nad your brother Gerry. They were 14-0 that year. I was a tiger at HN and at Most Holy Trinity HS and now I’m just a pussy. Charlie Lived across the street from me and we always played stickball on 17th St. and u had to hit it straight or it went on the roof of the Pilgrim laundry.
Betty-the paper mentioned your team mates in 1966:Muriel Bradley, Joan Dudar, Mary Finch, Connie Mangam, Pat McLoughlin, Pat Rail, Kathy Ryan, Margie Shields, Anita Tufano and coach Linda Esposito. Did you all fit on the bench? You were going to play in the Richmond Hill tournament.

I remember when I was younger I use to go to the park with my mother to watch my brother Billy play in the bandshell with Matty, and Jack Cambria.
And go to McFadden’s to see Santa Claus.
Ok well I have to go now.
So you all have a great weekend bye now.

Hi there, Richie Corrigan from 16th st. Kind of funny to see Aunt Maureen, cousins Kathy Hopkins and Kathy Hopkins Sanchez corresponding on the web. It was really nice to get this link (thanks Aunt Mo). Can’t believe all the memories it brings back. Recognize a lot of names and places, even though we moved upstate in ’72. Wasn’t aware of the other Corrigans in the neighborhood. My sister Joanne, my mom, and I live in Middletown NY, sister Linda in Wutrsboro, NY, and brother Matt in Ocean Pines MD. Will be checking in frequently and maybe throwing my 2 cents in once and a while. Used to hang out with Tim Hardy, Billy Pynn, Pat Quigley, Wally and Jody Staniczeski, Frank Maldonado, Jim Brady on the block, and went to Holy Name with Tim Kehoe, Stephen Shine, – that’s all I can recollect right now. Thanks to all who contribute.

Hello Aunt Maureen, How are ya, we are all doing fine here just busy working and keeping busy I hope to get that picture to you soon I still didn’t send it yet…sorry, Richie is on here also wow our whole family is on here. HI Richie welcome.
I remember going to the park to watch my brother billy play with his band in the bandshell with matty and alex and other guys but not sure who you would have to ask him that was alot of fun watching and listening to my brother billy play wipe out.
Going to moms pizza place to get pizza they had the best pizza on the ave

Hi Richie, How are you all doing?. I’m so happy you have the site I sent it to your mom and linda I don’t have anyones else e-mail addy or I would of sent it everyone here is find working and keeping busy that is about it nothing much to talk about.
Tell everyone I said hello and keep in touch.
Cousin Kathy

I remember going to the butcher on 9th I use to go to the back of the store and watch george put the mean in the grinder and chop meat would come out the other end…lol.
I remember the guys that use to work there:
Tony
George
Walter
Billy
and there was one I can’t remember his name he was tall and I think had blond hair.
I think it was steve but now sure.
those guys were the best whatever we wanted they would cut the meat just right.
Oh yea the the sawdust on the floor I use to kick it around while waiting for my mom to get her order memoires like this keeps you young.

I was talking to my sister Judy wow…she had alot of memoires. I couldn’t take it all down but I sent her the site so I hope she writes in, does anyone know if they put bar stools in farrells they said they would never put stools in so we were just wondering if they did or not.
If anyone knows the were abouts of the ward family please let me know I was trying to get in touch with them thanks.
see you all soon have a GREAT SUPER BOWL
GO GIANTS>>>>>WOOO HOOO.

Hi Betty,
I never thought I’d say it but the stools do look great in Farrell’s. At first I wasn’t to thrilled with them but now as I’m in my mid 40’s and after standing for an hour or two at the bar….the stools are a plus. After sitting in the stool for an hour or two then standing up is another story.

Who remembers when McNallay broke his ruler! He did it on Horse’s hands. Charlie refused to giver into McNallay and Mickey got so made and swung so hard he broke the ruler!

Br. John’s IOU paddle. Everyone got at least one smack.

Br Fl’s hand. I remeber one day he told Vito Planamura to get a hair cut and when the next day came and Vito did not BR walked down the asile and just lifted Vito by his tie and threw him out of the classroom.

And Br. Vincents sadistic ridicule.

Ah such wonderful Chatholic school memories

Someone just sent me the link to this site..lot’s of memories.

I cannot beleive no one has mentioned the McGees. Everyone in Windsor/Terrace has a McGee in their grae at some point. (Jimmy, Danny, Joey, Petsy, Ann, Maureen, John , Mike etcc… ) Heck the twins were born the day the Met’s won the World Series in 69.

Bro. Vincent had those Science fairs on Sundays and there was Sesso(forgot first name) who did not participate, and getting the snot beat out of him on Monday out in the hall. Bro. V also excercised us b4 every class with melodic cadence. Remember we had those sessions where we gave money to charity and Bro. John and Vincent would pit the classes against each other as the total went back and forth. It made us all dig deep. They were true salesman!

hey aunt maureen, richie and kathy s…..so glad to hear from you on
the web site…chubby was in the neighborhood yesterday for memorial
mass for john devaney…19 years since he passed….he was also in
Farrells doesn’t remember seeing any stools…but then again how long
was he in bar and how much did he have to drink…lol….was talking w/
friends this weekend frank lindsay, dell ennis, marie l and eileen e….
reminiscing about neighborhood and talking about this great blog site…
we will be going into neighborhood for irish american day parade in
march….hope to see some people we recognize there….shout out to
betty trap…how the heck r u?…..see your sister cathy often….she looks
great…a great family you have….maybe will see you in march….
gotta run now….

Forgot about those Science Fairs- We put on some great presentations for 7th and 8th graders. Joe Sesso was in our class- pretty tough guy from Windsor and Terrace. Never knew who would catch the wrath of Bro. Vinny, but it was always and often. Propagation of the Faith drives on Friday afternoon would pit one row of the class against another- Vinny would use our competitive nature to raise the bar. We would scheme up new ways to get a couple of nickels for those sessions. Great memory, Gerry.

re second grade picture 2B…..jim reilly is really jim sheehan….in front
of jimmy sheehan sitting down is frankie galinaro….mike trapp is in
second row last seat…. behind charlie terry is frank rizzo…that is all
i remember….chubby h

Hi Kathy and Chubby how the hell are you guys doing???? Yes Kathy, kate does look great, shes aging real well!! Kathy I remenber your mom and dad and what a nice couple on 10th ave. Your dad especially always a big hello!! I worked in MOrgan Guaranty and if I remenber correctly, he was a Security Guard there. I worked there for 10 years when I graduated High School. He always had a special smile about him!! Kathy maybe Ill see you guys for the Irish Am Day Parade. My best to all

For Jerry Weldon-what year to you graduate from HN? I left in ’67 and in Bro. John’s class and I think there was 2 8th grades, no? Baby boomers needed the extra room. Do you remember being a crossing guard with the white sash and badge? I was lucky enough to guard the boy’s entrance and the girl’s would see if they could sucker me in to letting them in instead of going to the next entrance…yes, I was a sucker!

Hi Gerry, yeah there were two 8 grades ,I was in Brother Duanes class. I think Brother Vincent is still lurking about here on Staten Island (just got a chill up my spine). Hope all is well with you since the reunion up at Bishop Ford.If you thought that was great ,you should have come on the HN cruise last July !!! . See ya later.

Hi Gerry,yeah there were 2 8th grades, I was in Brother Duanes class that graduated in 1967. I too was a crossing guard (i think i still have the badge tucked away somewhere). My “post” was 9th ave and Windsor Pl. and the crossing guard was Mrs.Stankus. Hope all is well with you since the reunion up at Bishop Ford. If you thought that was great, you shoulda’ come on the HN cruise last July!! it as really great!!!. See ya later,Paul

You were not only a crossing guard you were the Captain of the guards. You made me in charge of the girls entrance, yes!!!!!!!! If I only knew than what I know now. And about the science projects, I was cleaning out my mom’s house and came across the project we did together about mouse’s, remember, my mom still had my report. We fed those things vodka, etc…

OK, everyone!!! I spoke with Terri Brick-Doyle last night after I heard of Rita’s passing and she gave me this great blog! Do I know any of you? and Who is the person who started the blog? What happened to all the old crowd….I would love to get in touch with everyone and get an update on your lives………and update you on my life as well. Can’t wait to hear from you.

Helen Tripoli~~~!How great is it that this blog started up. Steve Finamore is the hallowed instigator of this flood of memories. I have been off work with a back injury so this blog has been keeping me company at times with some old and new friends from the neighborhood. My email address is cgheart @juno.com So glad to see that you are on board!
Carol

For Gerry Taranto- We moved to LI in “69 after I finished 7th grade in HN. Went to 8th grade at St.Mary’s and it was really a country club. I gotta say that I was ahead academically because of HN. Bro. Vinny and John had us way advanced in math and science- I guess fear was the great motivator. When I was there my last year Bros John and Duane had 8th- Blaine and Vinny 7th. I remember during class one day with Bro Vincent, some kids in the street were passing by on Howard Place yelling “Skinhead” He didn’t appreciate the nickname all too well, and proceeded to jump up on the windowsill and radiators to get a good look at the perpatrators as they walked alongside the school. We were snickering as he tried to walk down the window sills and fell. He made us pay for showing any glee at his expense that day.

Lisa Priolo(Saba) from Terrace Place you remember my brothers Gerard and Thomas. Hows your bro Kenny? I live on Long Island, and my brothers in NJ. Our older sister lives on Staten Island. Always remember hanging out in the shoolyard playing softball. What simple and fun times.

This blog is great and stirs up so many memories that it makes my heart pang. I have so many thoughts, I don’t think my fingers can type as fast as my thoughts . You know you guys talk so much about basketball, but how about the great group of girls who would meet after school down on Sherman St. to jump rope and double dutch. Diane Dragp, Patty Denny, Priscilla Davis, Pity Wall, Tisha Conlon, Christina Curtin, Margie DeStefano to name a few. Great cardio and created great toning for the legs!
I also remembered another thought when I saw the photo of the “well” at Holy Name. I was in 4th grade and was given the classroon assignment of clapping the erasers at the end of the day. The principal’s window was right above that area and that was where I was when she announced that JFK was shot.It was on the PA system and I wanted to run right home instead of going back to class.

Alex-We had 2 science projects that we did that I remember, one with mice, one with plants. We pulled the material together about a week before. We went to the pet store to get the worse looking mice with chewed ears and lousy color and say we fed them this and look at them. Same with the plants and my Mom got mad when we lost one of the mice in the basement and she swore she kept seeing it upstairs. We got a 3 out of 5 for both projects and you were a good talker. Denis Cummings always did well by cutting up a dead animal or was it live?

Oh the good old days. I think Dennis Cummings keep bringing back that same old dead cat every year. I remember you throwing me down your front stairs because one of my mice eat one of yours and those were long f+@#ing stairs. Joann is that you (now I’m crying), I miss u soooo much, hope everything is good with you. Jo & my ex Joyce (Cuttitta) were just two of the sweetest girls ever!!!! There was a time that the four of us (jerry) were always together, I think in spirt we still are. Love U guys…

Joanne, thanks for reminding me of the Principal’s Office. The Pricipals when I was there (1942 to 1950) were Sister Francina and Sister Polycarp. A call to the Principal’s Office in those days was usually connected to something good.

Two special girls–fifth grade or older–would be appointed as Candy Girl and School Supplies Girl, respectively. They would start out in the Principal’s Office every morning. They would carry around a box on a cord that went around their necks to each classroom, right after prayers and the Pledge of Allegiance.

Candy Girl had Tootsie Rolls, Twists, and other penny candies which we would buy and save until recess time to eat.

School Supplies Girl had pencils, wooden pens and pen nibs, and all kinds of erasers. I loved the smell of the white erasers. We didn’t need the ink erasers until fourth grade, because that was when we started using our pens, and the inkwells that were in every desk.

I was never appointed to one of these coveted positions, but I wa a regular customer!

Of mice and men…and those young women…mea culpa, Alex, for all past indiscretions. Thank God I can block out some of these things or I would have stuck a pencil in my eye by now. How about us blogging three in a row and those Slavin women getting last names of “Mc” like that.

Yeah what’s up with “Mc” names you would think it was an irish catholic neighborhood or something. I know I can take credit for being the first “spick” in the neighborhood, even though I thought I was a Conlon or Craig (two great famailies). I also have blocked out many, many of my indiscretions, some intentionaly, some …well it was the 70’s. Thank god there was no U-tube back than.

HI ALL SHERMAN STREET PEOPLE ,I CAME HERE IN 1970 WAS A GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD THEN ,AND STILL IS,ALWAYS A NEIGHBORHOOD OF MANY EVENTS ,LIVING ACROSS THE STREET FROM P.S .154 I SEEN MANY YOUNG PEOPLE GROW UP ,AND MOST TO THE BETTER

OK. I just noticed the note form Maureen Corrigan and had to respond. I was one of about 50 boys in the same class (1942-1950). We had nice little lady teachers during the first four years, then we got hit with the Brothers. Bro Colombonus ? Bro.Dermot, Bro.Warren, Bro. John of the Cross (aka Icky), Bro Kiernan & Bro. Yahn.
The little girls were all taught in nice little classrooms with heat in them, received all sorts of candy and treats, while the boys had to stoke the fires in the dungeons just to keep the little girls warm. If we were lucky, we would get to walk the principal’s pet rat on a leash out in the courtyard.

Alex, knock it off, noone ever used that Language around you. I actually never knew what you were, as far as your Nationality. I always thought of us as Ball Players or Non Ball Players, and I will say you were one of the Hardest workers out there. Glad to see your back with us again.I am glad Gerry sent me your e-mail so I’ll be in touch..BT

Hello all! It has been so much fun to read & re-read this blog. One memory of Windsor Terrace that I can’t believe no one has touched upon yet is Peter Finegan’s monkey. He used to dress it up & everything.

It was also so nice to read about Bobby Lamb. He was a very good friend of my husband Willy’s.

Robin Mardini
Just saw your shout out to the girls cheerleading team and OHHHH the memories that flooded back! Those were great times…I remember Karen coaching the younger team and flinging basketballs at our heads when we were messing around during mounts! And the year we had the combined team with all those crazy mounts Gina had us executing! Thanks for some great memories!

hi thinking back to when the older much older guys from surrounding ps154 school yard, use to play soft ball after dinner every night in the summer some olders,, were mike fazio ,bob fells,bill krumbholz,ronnie d,ambrosie,harold christie,,we played danny ryan,jerry mc,govern and his crowd ,talk about laughs ,we had many

Hey Alex, nice to hear from you and the nice sentiments. Although my sister, Eileen, told me about this site months ago, I only got on it about 2 weeks ago. Isn’t it great! And hi to Gerry, although i still want to spell it with a J
My husband, John, tells me I should write a book…that’s usually after we’ve had 1 too many and just talking and reminicing. But now all i need is to get on this blob and everyone will know what I’m talking about!

Saw “Twang” Sitting on a bench in Battery Park one afternoon ’bout 20 years ago. Still looked the same. Also remember Freddies’ Cansy Store on 11th and Sherman and Shirleys’ Luncheonette on 9th. Living in the mid west now ( Cincinnati)

Hi everyone,
I hope this works. I’ve tried twice before to post a comment without much success. I’m new to this site and justed wanted to let everyone know how much I’ve enjoyed reading all the postings. My brother Charlie told me about this and its great. I see Betty Trapp has made several contributions. Honestly Betty, you amaze me with your memory. Its so great to hear the stories again. I look forward to seeing comments from my old friends as well as Bibba’s friends. What a neighborhood.

Hi Kathy, how are you doing? Great seeing you or I should say hearing you this fine day!! Kathy a group of us will be getting together for dinner if you are interested, let me know, someone from the past was asking about you and asked for me to invite you!!! Take care and have a great day!

Hey Tumpy – Maryann Marsillo just found out about this website and told me about it (you remember her right?). I couldn’t believe it when I saw your name. I always wondered what you were up to. I’ve been living in Staten Island for the past 21 years. I actually just went to the Father’s Guild Dance on Friday night at Holy Name with Tom and Diane. You know they have the card store on 9th Ave. I always ask about Jennifer too. She’s working at Methodist Hosp. but haven’t seen her. I’d like to get in touch with her. We all had a lot of fun back in the day – it really was a time to remember. I never hear people talk about where they grew up as much as we do.

Kathy Priolo – how are you – we only hung together when we were really young – you lived right up the block on Prospect but it was fun then.

Hey Betty,
I’d love to have dinner. You still have my number, don’t you? I’d love to see some of the old gang. I was wondering though. I thought I saw Chap mentioned somewhere but I couldn’t find it when I looked back at some of the entries. Has anyone heard from him? He was a great guy. I saw mention of good old Murph. He was amazing. What fun we had when he was around and what a sense of humor. I have some pictures that I can scan and send in if anyone is interested. I have some from our famous “dude ranch” trip. Also, I wanted to mention that I work with Billy Thornton’s daughter. Someone brought her around and one look at her and I knew who she was. She is the image of her father and what a wonderful girl. Not sure if he knows about this site but I’ll tell her tomorrow and see that she gives him the info. For now, take care.

Got this one from a friend. But I am sure some of you have seen it making the rounds on the internet. But for those who have not it might bring a chuckle and a few memories as well. Enjoy

THE SPOILED UNDER-30 CROWD!!!
If you are 30 or older you will think this is hilarious!!!!

When I was a kid, adults used to bore me to tears with their tedious diatribes about how hard things were when they were growing up; what with walking twenty-five miles to school every morning … uphill BOTH ways

yadda, yadda, yadda

And I remember promising myself that when I grew up, there was no way in hell I was going to lay
a bunch of crap like that on kids about how hard I had it and how easy they’ve got it! But now that I’m over the ripe old age of thirty,
I can’t help but look around and notice the youth of today.

You’ve got it so easy! I mean, compared to my
childhood, you live in a damn Utopia! And I hate to say it but you kids today you
don’t know how good you’ve got it!

I mean, when I was a kid we didn’t have The
Internet. If we wanted to know something,
we had to go to the damn library and
look it up ourselves, in the card catalog!! There was no email!! We had to actually write
somebody a letter …with a pen! Then you had to walk all the way across the street and
put it in the mailbox and it would take like a week to get there!

There were no MP3’s or Napsters! You wanted to
steal music, you had to hitchhike to the damn record store and shoplift it yourself! Or you had to wait around all day to tape it off the radio and the DJ’d
usually talk over the beginning and @#*% it all up!

We didn’t have fancy crap like Call Waiting! If you
were on the phone and somebody else called they got a busy signal, that’s it!

And we didn’t have fancy Caller ID Boxes either!
When the phone rang, you had no idea who it was!
It could be your school, your mom, your boss, your
bookie, your drug dealer, a collections agent, you
just didn’t know!!! You had
to pick it up and take your chances, mister!

We didn’t have any fancy Sony Playstation video
games with high-resolution 3-D graphics!
We had the Atari 2600! With games like ‘Space Invaders’ and
‘asteroids’. Your guy was a little square! You actually had to use your
imagination!! And there were no multiple levels or
screens, it was just one screen forever!

And you could never win. The game just kept getting
harder and harder and faster and faster until you died! Just like LIFE!

When you went to the movie theater there no such
thing as stadium seating!
All the seats were the same height! If a tall guy
or some old broad with a hat
sat in front of you and you couldn’t see, you were just screwed!

Sure, we had cable television, but back then that was only like 15 channels
and there was no on screen menu and no remote
control! You had to use a little book called a TV Guide to find out what was
on! You were screwed when it came to channel surfing! You had to get off
your ass and walk over to the TV to change the
channel and there was no Cartoon Network either! You could only get cartoons
on Saturday Morning. Do you hear what I’m saying!?! We had to wait ALL WEEK for cartoons, you spoiled little rat-bastards!

And we didn’t have microwaves, if we wanted to heat
something up we had to use the stove or go build a frigging fire ..
imagine that! If we wanted popcorn, we had to use that stupid Jiffy Pop thing
and shake it over the stove forever like an idiot.

That’s exactly what I’m talking about! You kids
today have got it too easy.
You’re spoiled. You guys wouldn’t have lasted
five minutes back in 1980!

Regards,
The over 30 Crowd
(Send this to someone you’d like to make smile,
whether they are under 30 or not.)

Hi Lisa Prostamo, I think we used to hang out together when we were in the 8th grade. I lived on Terrace Place. Do you remember Meg McCorkell, Annamarie Opulente and Linda Morlano. We are all still very good friends and all living upstate Ny.

Coah F – I’ll be sure to scan some of the photos. It will take a little time though. I have to search in the attic (ugh) but will definitely get them to you by the end of next week. I have the likes of Betty Trapp, Mary Anne Conlon, Barbara Bartowski, Betsy Byrnes, Johnny Hedderman, John Young just to name a few.
Also, wanted to ask everyone – when I was in Holy Name and Hugh Carey was running for Congress, some of us used to go out and hand out flyers on street corners of different parishes. Mrs Carey or one of her friends would pick us up and bring us to a certain parish where we would stand outside after the Masses and hand out flyers for Congressman Carey. After our job was done, she would drive us home and we would be treated to sodas and snacks. Politics sure has changed.

Hey Betty,
It was great chatting with you last night and I’m looking forward to dinner with you and the girls. I meant to give you my email address which is kbnyirish52@aol.com – As I mentioned on the phone, although I recognize several names that have posted here, most of them are several years younger. I hope more of our old friends (from basketball days, etc.) will log on. Talk to you soon.

hey Kathy (Priolo) – when you were younger didn’t you live on Prospect Ave near 10th Ave? I cannot believe you’re in touch with all those girls. Meg used to live on 11th Ave right? We were pretty good friends way back. I remember Annmarie, her sister used to work in Bohack across from me. I don’t really remember hanging out with Linda Morlano. It’s so nice that you all live near each other.

Lisa I always lived on terrace place. Meg lived on seeley street. Yes, it is really nice we all kept in touch. We see each other a few times a year. We meet for dinner with our husbands. I haven’t been back to Brooklyn in a couple of years. I went to a wake in Smith’s funeral home and walked around 9th ave. It was so nice being there. It brought back so many memories. Do you see any of the girls from our 8th grade class? Some names that come to mind are, Janice Hilke, debbie vanpelt, diane bohna, nora lufty, Linda silecchio, lori sabbagh, janie luken, jeanne and florence carrese, just to name a few.

Hi Lisa Lindsay i asked about you a few months back on this blog and no one new where you were. I was surprised to see a posting from you .The last time i saw you was on your wedding day to Dennis I hope all is going well with you When we were younger I had the biggest crush on you I remember going to visit you at your house and your grandfather who lived on the first floor wouldnt let me in to see you .Your mother had to come down and get me past him.

hi lisa ………I lived in annadale on staten island for many yrs. Icant believe tom and diane still own the card store How is dennis doing? How many children do you have ?I have 1 son 26 and have been married 24 yrs and live in long island.It was really nice seeing that your doing good I am going to stop by the card store and see diane and tom.

Hi Richie Krumbholz,
I miss the good old days of working in Metal Litho 🙂 Yes I am still on 18th street. Janine and I just bought the house from my sister Lois who moved to NJ. We gutted the first 2 floors and extended the house 20 feet out to the yard. Still lots of work to do but should be done by spring.

hey junior, thats great with the house, still playing around making things out of wood? living in staten island for about 15 yrs now, next time i stop by parents house i’ll ring your bell if your home, there still on sherman st,

I’ve lived in the area since ’97 and have heard many stories and rumours re: Farrell’s, Sinatra, Shirley MacLaine, etc. How a women had never been in there until one night the Rat Pack was “slumming” and came in w/her in tow sometime in the mid- late 50’s. Any truth to this? I figured this would be a place to ask. Thanks!

hi billy – it’s funny, i haven’t talked to u this much in 25 yrs – i have 3 kids -2 girls 21 and 23 and 1 boy who just turned 17 – dennis is good – still a fireman —- do u work in LI or manhattan? – i’m still working in manhattan – i’ll be working forever —- can’t believe u have a 26 yr old – do i know who your wife is? – i’ve asked various people about u over the yrs and no one could tell me anything – i loved reading your stories on this site – it was really funny what u said about my grandfather – that’s the way he was – though he actually was a mashmallow

Hello Billy(tumpy),
it’s been awhile, nice to hear the old stories, I could add 100 more. How about when Booby (spelled correctly) caught his belt bucket in the garage door on prospect ave. All the time we spent in Joe’s pizza (he looks the same by the way, must be the pizza) listening to Mississippi Queen with Miles, Milo. Danny, Georgie/Jimmy and Haughie. I run into Milo and Haughie once in a while and I was at a dinner in the fall that honored Jimmy
and spoke to him, his mom and Aunt Mary. I just sent this link to Wally
Jimmy Pynn, Rusty and a few other people. They will be adding to the blog I am sure. Too bad Lisa discovered this site this week we just had a fund raiser last weekend in the lower church(now shepherd’s hall) we could have all gotten together. In any event, maybe we can plan something this year.

Steve(Coach)(Red) Whatever:) which do you you prefer? The Shirley Maclaine/Farrells story I heard was that she was with Jimmy Breslin and they both got thrown out and barred when she tried to get served at the bar. Women were allowed in but had to sit in the back at the tables and the men would go up to the bar to get their drinks.

ON the Shirley McLain thing…I could swear there was a write up in the Daily News magazine years ago …in the 70’s i think
I heard she was at the bar, and wouldnt move until she was served despite the bartenders asking her to sit in back.
I would suggest talking to Hooley…but then again, we all know how he loves to tell a tale

Eileen’s on the right track, the story goes, as recalled from my brother Michael who was there is as follows: he remembers Pete Hamill showing up with Shirley McLain and them going right into the back of the bar as every couple would do back then. At some point he sees Pete Hamill standing in the middle of the bar by himself, Shirley’s in the back, seemed like he was trying to get a little piece and quiet away from her. She’s standing behind Michael and his friends, about 6 or 7 guys standing in the back by the air conditioner and she’s throwing out a curse every now and then believing she’s not allowed to get served at the bar, but she’s determined to get served by hook or by crook. I always thought she got served originally standing up at the bar, not the case, seems she ordered a drink yelling over the 6-7 guys standing in front of her, they were’nt letting her in to stand at the bar, so her order was passed over the heads of the 6-7 guys for her to take where she was standing. As time went on she persisted, and eventually she was able to wear everybody down and she got her drink at the bar.

Hi Lisa,Tom Diane………….Lisa your like a baby machine . You go girl lol.Afetr reading your post about tom and diane still having the card store and not being in the old neighborhood in many years I decided that It was time to take a step back in the past and visit. So i stopped by the card store to see diane and she wasnt in yet after not seeing her for 25 yrs you would think that she would be in the store by 1 pm but i guess being the boss has its privlages.Lisa remeber peter smith lol.I used to beat him up over you all the time.Tom I wish i had known about the fathers guild dance that you diane lisa and dennis went to would have loved to spend some time with all my old memories and what good memories they are.Drop me a line just click on my name and it will bring you to my e mail. Hope to hear from you soon and Lisa enough babies tell dennis to take it easy .Hope to hear from you all soon

Lisa……………..I work in the city .I manage an apt building on sutton place for the last 24 yrs.My wife is not from the neighborhood. but after hearing all my stories i think that she wishes she was .We have to get some of the old people together and have a night to remember

Hi Tom Larkin……………..I remember when you got your first car. If i remember correctly it was a dark blue chevy impala. You were the first one of our group to get a car and i rmember chipping in for gas and a bunch of us driving to staten island over the new verizano bridge to a+w How many kids do you and diane have .I wish she was in the store the other day because i have so much to catch up on being that i havent been in the neighborhood for 25 yrs.I was surprised to see the card store moved have many good memories of the old card store that my mom and aunt owned for many years before you guys. I was wondering about maryann and gina carluci debbie alberti and of course jennifer donovan who was like a sister to me growing up

Prospect park was the best back yard ever. The sand pit, sleighing, ice skating, running along with the boys when Bro. John had track practice. Bro. John didn’t mind us girls because the boys would try to out-run us! He got good results. Ice skating was great on Wednesday afternoon, 1PM days because the CCD kids were coming. We would walk home through the Dutch cemetary and my brother Johnny and Dominick Fortugno, Ed Stendarti with Bro. Ramanos and other kids would scare all the girls. it was not so bad, we always went back the next week.
The Indian path and Cherry Hill. Great make-out spots! You wouldn’t catch me in there now at night. I did have a scare in the early 70’s. I warned everyone I knew except my Mom. She would have kill me!
We have some great home videos. I think all 8 of the Slavin’s have a baby photo in Prospect Park.

Billy; how are u its been a long time since i seen u at least 20 yrs or more i remember u allways had nice press shirts on walking up 16 st I forgot u use to hang out with another guy just can;t remember his name .well hope ur doing well maybe i;ll run in to u some time I live in N.J.

Corrado, Do you have a brother Frankie? Did you drive a blue sports car in the 70’s? Were you a Green Bay Packer fan like me and Schnazz?I think we used to put model airplanes together when we were young, if you are the same Corrado.I didn’t know you became an actor on the Sopranos,I didn’t recognize you without the afro,you appear much older without hair.Where in N.J. do you live? Do you ever come back to the neighborhood, or Farrell’s?

hey corrado thank for the rembering me yea its about 20 years i still live in the neighbourhood on windsor pl al the kids are growing 3 of them i retired now and hanging out relaxing i spoke to jimmy casino about 2 months ago ok hope all is well talk to you soon.

Those “Conlins” you were talking about are actually Conlon , I am a Conlon….Gerard Conlons to be exact, who grew up at 43 Sherman street, all is well with all of them. Dolores married mark Ferro! and reside in breezy point and my father is still in the neighborhood we have a house on 17th street. Found the James Riches page a nice touch, he was my cousin but didn’t know him that well. I kept the family tradition alive by going to Bishop Ford HS.

The frat dances we would go to until late then we would go to chinatown and pick a fight with the locals. One time we got out of the car and a shitload of guys came at us and we were jamming back in the car and it barely started as we got away and over the bridge.

My sister Maryann Marsillo just told me about this site. It brings back a lot of great memories about growing up in Brooklyn. I lived on Prospect Ave until 1978 when I moved upstate, then in 1997 I moved to Missouri.

That reminds me of the time when a well known writer from the 70’s showed up for a farrells race one year to write an article in his column. It was pretty cool I thought, the writer was somewhat of a celebrity and it always added a little different excitement whenever a notable showed up at the bar, Ed Koch, Harvey Kitel, Gov Carey, etc., a bunch others who I can’t recall this early in the morning, (Red, might be a good topic for the blog, good chance you’ll get to hear some interesting stories), I would have liked to seen the time when Ed Farrell would’nt serve Gov. Carey, the bartender working the other end of the bar stepped in to serve the gov and his entourage, saving them some public embarrassment, I was outside standing on the avenue when they came out, it looked like they were in there for a couple of hours. Back to the writer, so we thought it was pretty cool he shows up to give the farrells race some print, everybody heads over to the park, big turn out, beautiful day, lot of fun and laughs with so many neighborhood people running, many who were badly out of shape helping to add laughs to the fun event, the next day the article was printed and the writer discussing the big race, the people, the famlies supporting the race etc., if you read the story you would think the person writing it was there, turns out he was’nt there, he never left the bar, when we came back from the race he was long gone, I recall the article had some serious creditbilility issues with the description of the event, if you were just reading it not having been at the event you may have thought it was a good story, the guy literally mailed it in that day, who knows how many other times he and others in his business did the same thing.

I remember a few years back Steve Bushemi came into Farrell’s with Duffer. I had a chance to talk to him for awhile. We talked about the time he hosted Saturday Night Live. He performed in a skit which was a parody of Alice in Wonderland. He played the Mad Hatter. One of the funniest skits on SNL. We were laught our butts off that night. You never know who you might meet in Farrell’s

He came in to take out a few containers, he had the Mercedes parked across the street in front of the corner deli, which really isn’t a deli. I remember one of the high school coaches, who went out to the west coast to work his camp, describe seeing amongst Chris’s junk mail pile about 50-75k uncashed checks laying around, not a bad career for him I’d say. I remember Danny Burns (the most confident person he’d ever met- per Mike Maronna, one of my all-time favorite people who left us way too soon)being there.

Never heard that Steve Buschemi came in with Duffer, must have been pretty cool. Who was the guy Danny Gorman brought around, he played a private detective, had cancer in real life later on, he seemed to be a decent regular guy.

The story about Steve Buschemi is true as can be. It was a Saturday night. Later in the evening …it was myself, Steve Bushemi, Duffer, Danny Quirke hanging out at the bar by the phone booth drinking containers. Buschemi lives in Park Slope. When you bump into Eddie Mills…ask him about the time Walter Matthau walked into Farrell’s. And MaryAnn is right about Robert Urich. He was filming Turk 182 at the time.

hey maryann, don’t know if you remember me, i lived on sherman st, hung out in ps 154 with your brothers, the picture from holy name, has your brother mike in it, i see tommie every now and then at terrance creggs house, at BBQ’S

Hi, Aunt Maureen,
I can dance I can shake my hips…lol
How are you and uncle bill doing I hope all is well I just love this site, I have to call fran and get together with her one of these days did marissa move back yet I hope so how is everyone else doing I heard from katy she was doing good the last I heard.
I just love my rosery beads that uncle bill made me I keep them with me all the time they match the color of my eyes.
have to go now so I love you both and miss you.
HUGS AND KISSES.

Hi carrado,
This is Kathy billy Hopkins little sister I remember you, this reson why billy had nice pressed shirts was because he use to twist my arm from the kitchen to the living room and make me iron his shirts and then I use to cry until he gave me money.

Eileen spotted what I noticed, I never knew there were houses once where the lot is, never recall it being said, subway came along and those houses had to go I’m guessing. When you double click on the photo it enlarges and you can see people on school side and I think up on top of one of the stoops, looks like there may be 2 people sitting, or maybe my eyes are shot.

GT
I never knew there were houses there on Windsor either. My parents told me of the houses that were torn down for the Prospect Expwy, but never mentioned Windsor Pl.
My mom was born in the neighborhood, in ’28 when the pic. was taken….wonder if they came down soon after since she never mentioned it…

Hi All, nice to hear from cousins Bill, Kathy, and Kathy, and Aunt Maureen. When, where and at what time is the Irish parade? I would very much like to go down to the old neighborhood and see everyone. Does anyone know if the Hardy’s are still on the block? Aunt Maureen, I would also like to get as much info on Uncle Charlie as you have, and maybe go to the McFadden Brother ‘s post on Memorial Day. All is fine in Middletown, just waiting for spring.

Hey aunt Maureen,
I got the picture of my dad I will sent it to you tomorrow( sunday) ok sorry it took so long I had to look and look for it I’m always misplacing things and al get so mad at me oh well getting old I can’t help it…lol.
I will call franny and see if maybe we can get together to see the parade but I still love the one in bay ridge sorry…..lol.

Richie,
how are you doing I sent some mail to your mom once in a wile it’s good to hear from you how is the family doing tell everyone I said hello you hve to e-mail me your e-mail addy so I can send you some thing on uncle charlie and other information and pictures that, I have I want to ask your mom if she is not to busy if she can fine the pic of her, my mom , floann, and aunt nancy,with all of us on there laps when we were babys I would like to have a copy of it if she can fine it if she don’t mine.
also you have to ask my brother billy when the the irish parade is in park slope I don’t know when it is and I will ask jake when it is also and i will let you know.
ok well I have to get ready to go bowling so I will talk to you all soon
bye now.

hey all….
found out about the blog thru a friend,(JH) and just wanted to say hi to some old friends.
first , the friends from h.n, such as robin, ed, jane, mel, bt, tommy brick, kevin molloy, pdq, and ms. monzillo.
anyway all is well, i live in belle harbor with my childhood sweetheart dawn,
i just got 24yrs in the carpenters union, and have a great job as a forman for wabc,tv.
i still ride a skateboard, play frisbee, and still have that birth mark in my hair.
peace……..
oh , happy birthday to joanne slavin,….it falls on easter this year

How are you? I had dinner with Jane a few months ago and we had a chance to catch up! It was great to see her.
I’ve been teaching in a public elementary school in Brooklyn for the last 19 years. I work with Bob Slavin-small world!!
My husband and I have a wholesale balloon business and it keeps us pretty busy.
Can you believe it’s been 30 years since we graduated from Holy Name? We should plan a reunion this year!!
Take Care,
Robin

Hey everyone out there , my sister Lisa gave me this site and I could not believe all the names that were so familar,, it was such a great feeling to feel a bit of my childhood again,, wondering who remembers me, i remember alot of you , i lived on Prospect Ave, between 10th and 11th aves,, i remember the Bullocks, had a bad crush on Chris,, lol,,, lots of those back then, but that was a long long time ago,, i have four children , married , happy,, lived in Florida while my husband was going to school for about 6yrs now living on Staten Island, busy , crazy life,, but still have time to think about all the people i went to Holy Name with, saw Cathy Brady, Teresa Price and a couple of others a few yrs back at my nephews soccer game at Holy Name it was great,, hope everyone is well and maybe talk to some of you again,, Be Happy,,, Lori Prostamo Panarello

hey robin!
how the hell are you?, long time no see, long time no hear.
i’m glad everything is well
you spoke to jane recently, and after 28 years i got her back into playing music,and singing again,….. we sound great
thanks for writting back,…i really enjoyed your friendship growing up, and i always knew you were a great person,…we had o lot of laughs together.
what did you have for lunch today? i had liverwurst on rye, with pickles, and meet mel and dennis at bonali’s for a lemon ice
call jane soon and lets get together
jane has my numbers, call me
thanks robin
mikey

Hey Robin!
Tell my brother I said HI…you probably see/speak to him more than me at this point! LOL
seriously, I am sure he told me he is working with you, but I completely forgot! The Slavins are a family of teachers, it seems. I teach Spec. Ed upstate, Jim is teaching and Mary just got a job in her town upstate as a teacher’s aide!
Eileen

Good to hear that all is well with you. Last time I saw you was out at Patti’s
house probably about ten years ago. Jimmy and I still live in Marine Park, Brooklyn. Christine is in Manhattan College (her second year) and James is a Junior at Xavier High School. Don’t know how I got that old…lol

I was reading something someone posted to your sister Lisa about your grandfather living down stairs from you guys and it made me think of all the times we spent in your house during our high school years.

Bill H,
I thought the Irish day Parade was always the Sunday AFTER March 17th, That would be Mar 23rd. Can you or someone confirm the date this year? I don’t want to drive up from Pennsylvania on the wrong date. Thanks

Bill H,
How’d you know I was a huge Chieftans fan and Alison Krauss fan? I actually have tickets to see the Chieftans at the Kimmel center in Philadelphia March 15th. I have box seats right on stage, this is my second year going to see them there. I am also going to a buffet dinner with them afterward along with 100 other guests, its a fund raiser for the Kimmel center so I should get to meet them. What a coincidence I ask about the parade and you post a chieftans video.

Just stumbled into this blog. I had googled Hippie Hill for some reason and got a hit on Billy h’s mention of Jimmy Mot. Remember him well and his purple acid dealing on the circle. Er, of course I never bought any of it.

willy wickham…this is “cathy rohde, man”….do u remember……how r
u and where r u living now….r u still in touch w/harold and all the rest…
harold is now living in florida….bumped into him last year at the irish
american day parade….how about buster?….my husband chubby bumped into him many years ago at hippie hill….and then again after 9/11….he
had been working at windows on the world….but lucky for him was not
in that day…..aunt maureen……the irish american day parade is
march 16th….steps off at 12 or 1 not sure…in front of sanders theatre..
marches down 15th streel along 7th avenue to union street.. there is a
reviewing stand at 9thstreet..where they stop and the irish dancers
perform then on back to sanders where they disperse…..most people
just hang around if weather is nice or go to farrells or circles restaurant
right next to sanders theatre….dont know if we can make it this year..
have a surprise bd party for a friend at 4…maybe we can stop in for
a couple of hours…

hey kenny krumbholz how the hell are you do you remember in brother vinnys class when we were disecting those foot long earthworms and rupert riley was holding one over his mouth and jeffrey price smaked his hand and the worm went in his mouth the whole class erupted in laughter truth is stranger than fiction hope all is well willy huguenin

Cathy Rohde, man, what up? I’m in Bay Ridge since 2001. Before that, was out in Staten Island for about 20 years. Don’t see the old gang too much. I bump into Mickey about every ten years. The Mick is still The Mick. Last saw Harold, with Lucille, in 1994 on Hippie Hill. My brother gave me Harold’s phone number in Florida last year and I lost it so, if you’re reading Harold, that’s why I didn’t call. I saw Buster several years ago at a gallery showing George Ryan’s photography. George makes some great pictures. And he SELLS them!

This site is too funny. The reference to Buggy Bills. William Kemp was his name. He was called Buggy because of a huge mole on his forehead that looked like a big roach. A very unsavory character who sold tons of glue to kids. The glue used for plastic models, which he didn’t sell.

too funny about buggy bills…i lived around the corner from his store
and thought it was because the place was full of bugs…..roaches….never bought any candy in there….yuk!!…..saw lucille at a bridal shower
yesterday..her and harold have a grandaughter…saw her picture she
is beautiful….i am living on staten island now for the past 13 years…
had been in good old brooklyn until then…..love the place….but had
to move on….really far…lol….so, george is selling his pictures….good
for him…..my husband sees mickey from time to time whenever he
drops into farrells…we see nicky squicerini quite a lot…he is retired and
doing good….miss the park a lot and good old days just hanging and
enjoying the sun!!!!…..funny, that is all that i want to do with the rest
of my life…..

Cathy, so you guys moved to Staten Island. Far out!
Staten Island was good for me in many ways. I just heard that fat lady singing and knew it was time to come back to Brooklyn. What do I miss most about Staten Island? K-Mart. There’s no K-Mart in Brooklyn. You’d have to level a square block to build a decent K-Mart in Brooklyn. So, I go to Staten Island for K-Mart.
I came accross the first grade class picture here featuring your Chubby and brother Jake!!!!!!

There’s another first grade picture here with Michael Minogue in it. I don’t know if anyone remembers Michael. His parents, Charlie and Millie, had the little candy store on 15th street near 8th avenue. Michael was quite a kid. He would do ANYTHING on a dare. In the Sanders Theater on saturday afternoons he would usually be found in the front row ridiculing whatever movie was showing, those two old bag matrons shining their flashlights in his face and telling him to shut up. They walk away, he’d start right up again. Once in while he would half chew a Juigy Fruit till it was a gooey mess and throw it at the screen. It would sometimes stick to the screen and when it lined up with someones nostril he’d shout, “He’s got a snot hanging out of his nose!”. By then the ogre manager, Jimmy Curtis, would throw Michael and anyone near him out. Our saturday afternoon was complete.

Michael died tragically young. But he’s not forgotten. Here’s to you, Magoo!

anyone remember the white or pink elephant sales we used to have in Holy Name School basement? It was like one big garage sale. Everyone in the neighborhood
would donate all of their junk that they didn’t want anymore, and you could pay it for like .50 cents or something. One man’s trash was another’s treasure.

YES I remember them, but does anyone know what the distinction is between a white elephant and a pink one??
As a kid I did all my Christmas shopping for my family at those sales! A couple of bucks went a long way for an 8 or 10 year old at those sales.

I won three Mets tickets at the Pink Elephant Sale. At the Met game I got to see Tom Seaver pitch and Willie Mays scoring the winning run against the Houston Astros. Remember walking in the schoolyard and all you saw was those tickets you rip open.Three cherries won you $25. One year I bought a Stan Laurel lamp there. Damn thing never worked. I hate Stan Laurel to this day !

Maryann,
If it was you who picked out my ticket …I thank you. It was the best game I ever went to. My brother Tom went with me to that game. If Holy Name ever has a White or Pink Elephant sale…I’m donating my Stan Laurel lamp. To install the bulb I had to twist off his head. Maybe I twisted to hard. I won’t even mention where the on and off switch was located.

The difference between the Pink and White Elephant sales was that everyone back then ran White Elephant sales. The Xaverian Auxliary wanted to have their own sale. They called it the Pink Elephant sale…thats what my sources tell me.

YOuch are you talking about getting your belly slapped til it turned pink?
How bout the indian,(or should I say native american) one where we would twist someones arm in two directions til it turned red?

Remember the name of the game where by losing the penalty was making a fist and getting your knuckles hit with a deck of cards? I remember playing that game a going home with bloody knuckles. You could get hit numerous times. I guess I wasn’t good at the game.

Mike, I really think that game was called “Knuckles”. There was also a way you got hit, it would be worth 10 points, chopping down on your Knuckles with the whole deck, where your knuckles really got scraped up…

Knuckles………I should have known. And Asses up…I’ve been on the wrong side of that too. It really hurt when the ball would hit the upper thigh. You were better off having the ball hit you squarely on the cheeks.

Maryann,
You’re right. Most of the mothers in the neighborhood belong to the auxilary. Now some of them belong to the Red Hat Society. You can tell when the mothers had an auxilary meeting. The day after some of the boys went to school with wrinkled shirts.

I have film of the very first Irish American Parade. What a difference from then and now. Back in 1977 you couldn’t walk the sidewalks…it was mobbed. I agree with you….most people don’t go for the parade anymore.

Hey what a great site, found this trying to google an old friend Myles Corrigan. I spent 18 months with him in Crete, while in the USAF. I spent a few days visiting your old neighborhood in 1979. Had some beers at Ferrals. I remember meeting his mom Mary on howard place, and going to see his grandmother across from prospect park. Funny thing was when we knocked on her door, and Morley identified himself, there was a series of about seven locks opening before the door opened. I live in Montana where we lock almost nothing. this left a memory i’ve never forgotten. Any way I haven’t heard from Myles in years, If anyone out there see’s him tell him I wish him well.

Hello to everyone in the class of 1978! I can’t find my autograph book!
I do remember that I listed my favorite song as “Because the Night”, by Patty Smith and my best friend was Jane Harte! Remember disco dancing at the 8th grade dance? I was in Brother John’s class. Remember going to Great Adventure for the 8th grade trip? Remember saving the 16th page of our autograph books for the boys that we liked? It’s hard to believe we’re all in our forties now! I am immature now as I was then-maybe even more!

Happy Easter to ALL! One memory is being in our Easter clothes and not wearing coats over the nice new outfits and lining up to go to church and snow all around us. New shoes with slippery souls and suits and the girls in dresses freezing with little socks and white buckled shoes. Maureen Corrigan, do you have a brother nicknamed, snappy? I seem to remember that and memory does fail at times.

Hope everyone had a nice Easter! Reading Gerry’s response reminded me of my mom dragging me downtown on the #75 bus to go to Robert Halls to get my annual Easter suit. I think their claim to fame was that their suits came with an extra pair of pants (this way you could play in your suit at your cousins,put a hole in the knee of the new pants and still have another pair of matching pants). On the way back home we would make a stop along 5th avenue to get a pair of new shoes at Tom McCanns or National Shoes.I remember I couldn’t wait to to take those new shoes off after coming home from Mass,cause the hurt so much!!!

I remember that #75 bus. I think my brother’s had those robert hall suits. Light blue if I remember right. We also went to 5th ave to Tom McCann’s. Anyone remember Lady Fair or Different? We always paraded up and down Terrace Place in our Easter outfits and my dad would take pictures with the 8mm camera. As we got older it was so embarrassing, but everyone else was doing it too.

Anyone remember the Loft’s candy store on Fifth Avenue that sold solid milk chocolate crosses with different color jelly beans in each section left by the cross in the box. I cannot find anything like it today.

Yes, I do remember the Loft’s candy store on 5th. and when my brothers and I got older my mother would give us those crosses, instead of baskets full of candy. After all, that cross is the reason we celebrate Easter.

Yes, it certainly is the reason we celebrate Easter. It has gotten to the point, where there is no connection in the consumer market. No room for God. Just lost my mom. These Easter memories are that more sweet.

How’s it going Fin? Mike V turned me on to Container Diaries last month. I just love reading and remember all the people we grew up with in the Slope/Terrace. Wow, my mind is Abuzz with all the wonderful and not so wonderful times all of us had. I plan on going through some old photo albums; send what I can.

I would like to add the following:

Donald Leaver, one of the best childhood friends I ever had! Right now I’m remembering the Stones Concert that Donald and I went to at JFK stadium (I’m thinking 1981?), what a time. We got in free the first night by rushing the gate, went back the next day and weaseled our way in with the same tickets!!

I have so many great memories of you Donald, wish you where still here.

4/5/08 WHAT I STILL LOVE ABOUT FARRELL’S: We stopped in tonight to have a quick one & check out the new pizza place next door. Spent 20 – 30 minutes at the bar – always treated like family & I ran into 4 different people who have known me my whole life…….God, I love that place.

Hi Nancy……………..I have many memories of you.I remember that ski weekend like it was yesterday.I remember you and bunny always haning out together .I think the last time I saw you that you were dating one of the Bullocks.I lived in Bay ridge for a few years and now live in Long Island married with a 26 yr old son .Did you marry someone form the old neighborhood? How many kids do you have? It was nice seeing that your reading the blog and still doing good You were always such a sweet girl.

Hi Nancy We’re supposed to meet May 24th in Farrells and we’ll play it by ear after we meet. I hope all is well with you. Check out ” The Mod Squad ” and ” The Outsiders ” on this blog and you’ll see some old familiar names and what we’ve been talking about. I hope you can make it on May 24th. Harry

Hi Nancy……………I still ride every once in awhile.But im getting old now and I need some help getting on the horse lol Only Kidding You sound like you are doing well and I do hope to see you on the 24th .I havent been on ice skates in 30 years so I guess your in better condition then me .See ya soon

I can get the ball rolling if you’d like on this get together. I need to get back to NY soon. I know Ford didn’t something in conjunction with HN but a reunion with the class of 78 would be sweet.

Some possible locations to meet:
The back of the home on Windsor.
Parkside.
Horse Corral.
Ninth avenue (pick a spot, any spot)
Laura Cox’s hallway.
Boys schoolyard on Howard.
Subway stairs by the parkside.

Would be nice to get together. Not sure how many people would show up, but it’s worth a shot a getting as many as we can.

That Ford party was so huge & so much fun. It was so cool to see so many people from the neighborhood. I ‘m thinking this would be on a much smaller level then that party. Guess we can’t really pick a place until we know how many are really interested. If it’s just a few, then we meet in Farrell’s.

I haven’t seen too many on the blog from our class – but I’m sure the word could spread fast.

to Mike Layden,
It’s been about a month or so since I’ve been on this blog and was blown out of my mind when I saw a comment from you and you mentioned my birthday, on Easter. What flattery! How the hell are you? It must be at least 20 or 25 years since I saw you last, at a St. Pat’s celebration at Farrell’s, I think. I live in California (20 years) and have 2 beautiful girls of nearly 16 and 18) By the way, how’s Janet and Joe? Please write back. You just made an old lady (although I do my best not to look it) feel great. Thanks, Joanne

This is a great website. Reading through it brought back so many great memories of my childhood. I was upset to hear about the passing of Joanne Mackey, it made me very sad. By the way me and Patricia DeRossi are still best buds, we see each other often and speak to each other all the time. Keep us informed about the reunion. Would love to see all of you.

Betty Trapp, to say I feel slighted is an under statement. We go all the way back to “Eddie and Betty” 8th grade in Holy Name and all I get is a tiny mention about us being the “tall ones” at graduation in 1965. And “hand trouble” with Gerry Taranto (Hi Gerry!)….. Come on, I thought we had something serious! Kidding aside , thanks Betty for being in touch and a good friend all these years.
One of the all time funny ones was the horse in the room with Johnny Hederman and Jackie Herr up at the dude ranch trip. The horse came out of one of the girl’s room going at a good clip w/ Johnny hanging on for dear life!
Kathy Fitz–hope all is well, if you have pics it would be great to see.

I don’t know the person who wrote that article either. She said
in it that she is a newbie to the neighborhood. Accept for a few inaccuracies…(like Vinnie having a slew of kids, calling MJ Smith’s
“Frank Smith’s”, and her mentioning a drag queen in the funeral procession…. the person she is describing was more than likely Maureen Mollica) I think she did a nice job. It really painted a picture of what that day was like.

OMG this is where you’re all hanging out…..I’ve been bumbling my way around this blog for a few weeks…this is amazing.

Matt Bullock, how the heck are you? Tell your family hi! I always loved bumping into you around the neighborhood whenever I was back…..it’s been years and years, now, though…

Mike Layden, you and your friends playing frisbee on my bay at Coney Island beach while I lifeguarded was probably the only thing that kept me awake in the chair half the time…nice to see you.

Robin Mardini…my cheerleading days are a great memory in my life!
I remember the day I tried out and you were one of the judges…thanks for letting me on!

Mike Purdy. I have not half lived my life…where was I while all of these things were going on? You were one brave maniac…..I was far too afraid to do half the things you all are describing here…..you’re also even more hysterically funny than I even rememberd and I really remembered you as being very funny.

My husband (Jimmy Cutrone) and I were in Prospect Park walking our three dogs this past holiday season and we bumped into Kathy Cain. Kathy was my very first swim coach ever.

When I was in first grade I sat in Sr. Helen’s homeroom and heard an announcement for the Holy Name swim team come over the loudspeaker. I went flying home, delirious about joining…my mother had no choice but to bring me, a bathing suit and a towel to John Jay High School…..it turned out that you were supposed to be in second grade….I hadn’t heard that in my delirium…my mother begged Kathy Cain and Liz?? Liz…your last name escapes me but I can see you in my mind’s eye…..was captain, maybe? Rosemary Sheehan was also a coach….and they decided to let me try.

They lined the eighth grade girls up along the lane so they could get me if I drowned, I guess…I got in and swam the whole way. My memory is foggy at this point but I believe they let me join that year….

Either way, it was Kathy Cain that sent me to the Prospect Park YMCA swim team in eighth grade and the Ferro’s allowed me to tag along to and from practice on the B75 and walking…..Mark had the coolest flip turn ever. I even used him as an example a few months ago with one of my swimmers. He is very tall and flips way too close…I told him he flips like he is two feet tall and not six three. I then got in and did a “Mark Ferro” flip turn. His problem was solved ever since…..

I also learned to carry my swim bag in the coolest way possible from Mark and John…..one hand slung back over my shoulder with the bag resting on my back/shoulder.

Anyway, seeing Kathy Cain in the park was just like nothing…like we had seen one another every day and not just three times in thirty years. Kathy Cain is my hero. Love her dog, too!

Mike, I just clicked on your link for the Brooklyn video and then watched the one you made from the cruise. You just gave me gold…I had not seen any pictures from the cruise and in your video I got to see my mother and my uncle, aunt, another aunt and Helen all together singing karaoke.

That’s just the best thing, ever. Not to mention I got to see you and Kathy, too!! Hello to Kathy. We are trying to get a reunion going for the PPY swim team…Lee Anne and I have been talking about it for four years, now…..

I’m glad you liked the video. The cruise was fantastic. We bumped into your mother and aunt’s in a karaoke bar on the ship. They kept hogging up the mic. If Dick Clark was there they would have tied him up and stored him somewhere. They were having a blast singing away. I’ll tell Kathy you said hello. How’s Eddie doing? Please say hello for me. Hope all is well with everyone !

Hey ann Marie Mc Grath,
If i recall correctly , you were my first big crush. I use to ask the older kids to cross me so i could play with you.I think we were like 4 or 5 . Sherman st was great. hey to lisa priolo too

Matt Bullock….in one hundred years I never would have been brave enough to say that you were absolutely my very first boyfriend…I believe we even attempted to kiss one day (due to crowd encouragement) at the young age of four or five. I also believe you were the very first person I ever punched but I can’t remember what made me so mad at you….

It cracks me up to think of my mom hogging the mic on a ship….she and I sing so badly that people around us in church used to lean further away so they could keep on carrying their tune as my mom and I belted out “The King of Glory” and so on….

Eddie is doing really well and he is still hysterically funny. My children find themselves doubled over with laughter with his antic…..we laugh, we dance, he’s as nuts as ever. Thanks for asking. I’ll tell him hello.

Would someone please tell Kathy Brady that I was watching THE TODAY SHOW one morning and there she was, dancing with Faith Hill..it was amazing. I started shouting at the tv.

Annemarie,
Eddie will never change. He’s one of the funniest guys I know. Ask him if he remembers shooting some bottle rockets of down in the 16th subway station. That had to back in the late 70’s . Where has the time gone. I’ll tell Kathy Brady that you saw her on the Today Show. You sure it wasn’t Benny Hill ?

Hi Matt, I haven’t been on this website in about a month or so.busy with work and kids.Are you still in Brooklyn? I’d love to come back one day with my kids and show them my old house and the neighborhood. does anyone know where John Riches(jughead) and James Kavanaugh are? Curious.

Wow. I don’t remember anymore how I stumbled on this, and I didn’t grow up on 16th St. but have hazy memories of visiting in the summer when I was little. So, Mom, Kathy and Hopkins cousins–it’s funny to meet up with you here! Fun reading about a place I heard a lot about growing up.

I remember Mr Clean he use to walk down the block and check all the kids hands to make sure that they were clean if not he use to tell you to go and watch them and he would check out hands again.
He was a bald headed man he really looked like Mr. Clean…lol.

Sorry to change gears on everyone, but reminiscing got me thinking about a few things, like how peer pressure was never greater than when we were growing up.

As the saying goes, “the shoes make the man”, but growing up it was, “the sneakers make the kid”. Having the right pair of sneakers made you cool and likewise, the wrong pair made you the subject of much ridicule. No sense trying to explain this to an age group (Parents) that just didn’t understand this. So if you were unlucky enough to have them buy you a pair of super indestructible hard rubber sneakers from a bin in Bohack (commonly known as Bohack Specials), you were screwed. Above these in the hierarchy of sneakers were the irregulars, which were affectionately, called ‘Rejects’. Accusing someone else of wearing “Rejects” was more pungent than a curse word in any verbal schoolyard argument.

Another prime example of peer pressure was when the Good Humor Truck turned the corner and rang those all-too-familiar bells. Everyone ran into their homes to ask their parents for ice cream money. Although they somehow don’t taste as good as they did back then, I still fondly remember the frozen treats that I loved:
· Popcicles was in several flavors and was the cheapest thing on the menu.
· Bomb or Rocket Pops which was a large, patriotic (red, white and blue) colored Ice Pop which was both respectable and economical.
· Italian Ices had the yummy syrup on the bottom.
· Ice Cream Bars like Chocolate dipped vanilla bar, Toasted Almonds (My Favorite) and Strawberry Shortcake. We saved the sticks to make fake switch blades.
· Super Deluxe Ice Cream in a cup (this was their high-end product)

If you came out of your house empty handed or with some sort of store bought ice cream, you would again be subject to ridicule. Sharing was absolutely forbidden.

On the other hand, cookies from home were the complete opposite and sharing was expected. Saying “No grubbing” was used as a countermeasure to avoid having to share.

OMG Patty, Toasted Almond was my favorite, too!! My second favorite was the one with the solid chocolate in the middle…..I dont’ know the name of it and sometimes buy things that seem to resemble it, just to find out the name and I’ve yet to come across it….anyone?

Patty, Eddie and I used to shout up to my mother from in front of 35 (we lived above the Denny’s, on the second floor, for those of you unfamiliar with Sherman)…”MOM!! GOODHYUMMA!!” and she’d come to the window, in her housedress with change wrapped up in paper or a napkin (we’d be SCREAMING “MOM!! MOM!!! HURRY UP!! GOODHYUMMAA!!!” and she’d be screaming back, all of us at the top of our lungs “ARIGHT! ARRIGHT!! I’M COMIN!!!”) and then she’d open the window and HURL the money (these are coins, remember) right AT our heads……she didn’t understand the physics of the whole thing and thought she had to throw them down with all her might so that, in fact, we had to scatter like crazy so as not to get killed by this flying missile of coins, wrapped up in paper and headed right AT us….then we’d grab the money and hope that enough of youse were still on line (imagine that online means something different now?? On line…online…) and the guy was still there…..

I sometimes bought a Bomb Pop only because they were the biggest thing you could buy…..and I assumed it would last the longest….but it also melted the fastest, so…

Next we HAVE to talk about the rides in the trucks. I used to LIVE for The Whip.

I was terrified of King Kong (was it called?) and would only go on when I felt I had to prove something. I was so friggin scared of that thing……

Why did the rides never really go to Windsor Place? Whenever I was at my grandmother’s, they were never there….

The Whip. OMG was there anything more fun on the planet than The Whip?

I remember the last time I ever rode The Whip…it was the day I realized I was too big for the little seats. It was so sad. I felt kind of stupid that I was on it, you know? That’s what made me realize I was too old. I was so so so sad…..too big for The Whip………….

Annemarie
I am sitting here, early morning enjoying a quiet moment with a cup of coffee AND I JUST SPIT IT ALL OVER THE COMPUTER SCREEN
you had me rolling with you description of the Good Humor “sprint” TOO TOO FUNNY

Ugh, I think coffee up the nose is worse than soda when we were kids!

I LOVED the Whip! It was the best ride. I went on the King Kong when dared by the likes of Joey Stasiak and then of course the dare was to sit on top! And you couldnt show you were scared at all, so I would be laughing on the outside and screamin on the inside.

How many of you ever ran into the old Good Humor truck…rang the bells (the string was located above the dashboard).. then ran like hell before the Good Humor man caught you. Remember in the old trucks the driver had to step out of the truck to serve you. I really pissed the Good Humor man off big time….enough so he was the Bad Humor man when he got home.

Jimmy likes the old trucks better. The ones where the guy had to get out to get to the side to reach into the box on the side of the truck to get it..you and he are the same age, Mike. Old. I don’t know what any of you are talking about, lol!!

speaking of the good humor guy do you remember having a few friends distracting the guy on one side of the truck so you could open a door on the other side and grab an ice cream ???
Every now and then he would open the same door on the other side and then it was time to run! Not that I ever did this. PDQ.

Fin. Red. Do you know how long a walk it was up that hill to Bonali’s??? Heck, that was something we saved for once a week. We didn’t want to leave Sherman during the day, lol….

Patty, something on the shoes. My mother would take us to Red’s shoe store on ninth. I remember specifically coming home with new sneakers on and you and Eddie were sitting on your stoop. I was maybe six? Seven? And all I wanted to do was show the two of you how fast I could run in my new sneakers from Red’s. So, you guys told me to show you and said I should run as fast as I could all the way to Tenth Avenue…..I remember turning around at the corner of tenth and looking back….and then, bam, realizing why you sent me that far. LOL!

Just so you know, I laughed hysterically typing this story…

I love Bonali’s because it was such a special treat for us. I loved the milkshakes but especially the soft ice cream dipped in hard chocolate. OMG I loved those.

I never stole ice cream in my life…..did it taste better that way? LOL

With all this talk of the Good Humor guy i just had to share….Last year, My husband and I are sitting on the back deck enjoying a quiet moment in the sticks when all of the sudden, we hear that familiar tune……
We look at each other in amazement and say..”Cant be…not around here…”
Sure enough an ice cream truck pulls up our dead end lane in the middle of nowhere…
It was a bit Steven King-ish/Twilight Zone the first time….And we actually tipped the guy the first few times to make sure he would come back regularly- he is now a staple of summer on our block and even gives my dog a cup of vanilla ice cream!
Mike and I grumble at times about the cost of a bomb pop these days, but it is awesome that my kids get this same experience that we had, even living “in the sticks”

To cool off after a long hot day of playing stickball on 10th Ave…I would walk over to Bachman’s Deli on 16th Street …go to the front counter and stick my head in the ice cream freezer….pretending I was looking for an ice cream.
They caught on after awhile. As a matter of fact they might have slammed the freezer door on my head. That explains a few things !

I also remember the new sneaker experience. You felt like you were walking on clouds and could run as fast as the wind. Having such uncontrollable power as this, one could easily find oneself inadvertently kicking oneself in the rear while in mid-stride. Such things were short lived however, for stepping on them “christening” had a way of permanently sapping their power.

you may have a better chance of getting together a group from the 60`s- 70`s and 80`s even leave an open invitationfor anyone who would want to attend. charge admission and give it to a fund that is worth while(reunion)

My niece, Emma Powers, will be entering her last year in Brooklyn College where she has been studying dance and physical therapy. Her last apartment was closed down by the city and she has been at a lost for a place to stay if not for Charlie and Theresa Powers opening up their home. Any help out there for an apartment or room for rent by other college students? Please pardon me for using this venue.

Billy says hi, hIs computer is down. I`ve been working with him the past 6 months. Hes doing great and always says you were one of the best. I`m sure he will come up one weekend to my house if you ask. he can stay at my place in chester and we can have a bar-b que. what do ya say !

how are you matt ????? Billy WAS, and IS the BEST !!!! i talked to him on the phone about 4-5 weeks ago. i will call him tomorrow and tell him that some of us are gettin’ together sat nite in farrells (if you’re down, come by) i’m in chester alot (shoprite). i’ve been trying to renovate my house for the last 10 yrs, but i’m in the middle of it right now and everything is upside down, but when it’s done we’ll have the 2nd bar b que at my place ! HM

An old friend turned me on to this website, does anybody remember my good friend Rudy K. ? I grew up on 13th street between 8th and 9th ave. spent many saturdays at sanders movie theater, saw many movies such as karate flicks and the exorcist etc… hung out in ps 107 school yard, sleigh riding at prospect park, then went to is88 john jay highschool, i remember slick and lala scared me to death, is sean riley did he used to hang out with bozo and kevin avlerizez who died on 8th ave sorry to say, i worked in C and S meat market on 7th ave and 8th street i used to deliver meat on the heavy bicycle. i also played football for st. savior church in early 70’s peewee league, does anybody remember the pool hall they opened on parkside circle?

I am so glad I was told about this site, it makes my day. Has anyone heard anything about Henry (Chap) Chaplin, Johnny Slavin (Jr.) or Paul Lawrence. Grew Up with the three of them and lost touch over the years.

Joe its about time you surfaced!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Joe you forgot one special person also, Jerome!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Joe Chap is in the Huns picture and was at Farrells for their reunion, so talk to the Huns about chap. Johnny Slavins sisters are on the blog also so read some of the articles. Paul has been seen with us in the last couple of years, but now is getting remarried and is doing great. Joyce, and I have often talked about you and was wondering when you would surface!!!!!!!!! Its great seeing that.

Harry so happy you all had a wonderful time and a great picture. Was Henry Chaplin (Chap) a Hun, not too many things I missed growing up but that one I did. Thought maybe his wife was one of the Hun Ladies. It was great seeing you all.

LIving in Brunswick, Georgia. Moved down here in 1990 and not thinking of leaving “Duke” is someone I would never forget. Is this the samr Priscilla that married him. I’m a EMT down here and I love the work. There are so many people that I thought about, it would take a week to list them all. I’ll be more in touch and if I ever head up that way, I’ll stop by I don’t think Chap was a Hun, he was closer to the early Saxons.

It’s the same Priscilla. I can’t believe this, Jerome and I were just talking about you over the weekend and we were wondering how and where you were. Give us your e-mail address. Hope to hear from you.

Hey Joe, it is Jerome and believe it or not me and Priscilla were talking about you this past Sun in the car. Still married and living in NJ; all the kids grown and gone although you probably only remember the oldest. It is really good to hear you are settled in and doing well. Never would have thought Georgia……..
Stay well and if you ever come north, try to get in touch

Hey Joe, it is Jerome and believe it or not me and Priscilla were talking about you this past Sun in the car. Still married and living in NJ; all the kids grown and gone although you probably only remember the oldest. It is really good to hear you are settled in and doing well. Never would have thought Georgia……..
Stay well and if you ever come north, try to get in touch

It’s me again. I’m like a kid in a candy store, don’t know where to begin. My e-mail address is emtijoe@msn.com Anyone e-mailing me please put Park Slope in the Memo box. That way I will accept it as safe mail. Betty T, are you still in the neighborhood. It is great to see some of the names I grew up with. Who remembers Mom’s Pizza, that had to be the standard setter.

Donald the Slevins are related to the Trapps, their mom and our mom are sisters. They lived next door to the Parkers. The Parkers are a great family also. Their mom was a nurse I belive and they were great dancers. Bobby Burkes mom and our mom back in the 70s was both diagnosed with breast cancer and they became very good friends and were going for treatments together and within months they both passed away. I can still still their mom she was a much younger and beautiful looking women. Not sure but Bobby was the oldest of the family and I think he might had been about 16 when his mom passed away and their was about 4 younger ones. My heart broke for them at that time.

Joe Ive been out of the neighaborhood for about 28 yrs living Long Island, I have two girls 26 29 and 3 grandchildren and one on the way in Oct. I was a single mom for 18 yrs and when the girls grew up I decided to start dating and I got married 6 yrs ago to a great guy. Of course both times I married gentlemen out of our neighaborhood.

betty im convinced that 13th street was cursed,iremember mike burke i heard hes a cop, i also knew mike slevin i was sorry to here what happen to his brother frank…a lot of good peolple i knew had past on ,one of them my best friend rudy kantakusin , who ill always remember the good times growing up on 13th street…ijust heard that tom parker is a vet doctor in park slope ..

Thanks for the “hardball” piece! Stirred a bunch of Holy Name baseball memories!
Just want to get one in for the slightly older guys!! This year marks the 40th anniversary of the 1968 Holy Name “Junior Division” baseball team’s NYC Sandlot Baseball championship season. Coached both in our Tyro and Junior years by Mr. “TU” Tufano!
After winning the CYO Brooklyn Queens division the team went on to win the whole ball of wax and played into the Fall at places we never knew about before—as I remember at Long Island and around the city. Some of the guys on the team were Dennis Flynn, Jim “Jughead” Riches, John “Koch”Conway, Nicky Canella, Eddie Keyes, Joe Tufano, John Mahoney, John (MVP) Luciano, Harry Gonzales, and several others I regret I cannot remember all.
We had a lot of fun, practiced and played hard on the “diamonds”and at the Parade Grounds all the while guided by a great coach.
PS-Hi Joe Green, best to you. How’s the Koch man doing?

This is a shout out to Susan Rail. Susan! A few weeks ago, we were in New Paltz, NY and on the way outta there, we stopped AT THE WELDON HOUSE! OMG OMG OMG OMG! I leapt around with glee. It was after nine pm and dark, but the moon was light enough to see. EVERYTHING IS THE FRIGGIN SAME! My kids and I ran up and down the hill, ran over to the swimming pool (which has a tree growing through the middle!) and then to the playground near the shuffle board courts……(which are overgrown).

On the playground is that same slide with the tunnel, the same swing set (sans swings) AND AND AND THE MERRY GO ROUND THING is there. WE RAN IT AROUND AND SWUNG ON IT FOR SO LONG! I felt like I was twelve years old. That was, hands down, THE most incredible experience I have ever had in my life. My kids said they never saw me play like that before.

YOU DO NOT!! OMG I love it there. That’s my second favorite place to live on this planet. Okay, I never lived there but I wanted to! LOL We went to visit the schools and things because we thought we might move there. My kids and I went to the middle and elementary schools. We were treated very well. Lucky you, it’s gorgeous there.

About 30 yrs. ago I played for Brennens and 5 Corners. I played free saftey under Pauly Kenny, the head coach. Yes, you were the fastest player in the league, but I sacked you, that is, if you can remember about 3 times in one of the championship games. It’s been a long time so I don’t remember in detail. But one thing I do remember is that I looked forward to those Sunday football games. They were my life for a long time. I do appreciate this computer site you guys have. It sure brings back great memories. You guys were always a tough team to play.

Hey Annemarie
I’ll introduce you to all the fun people when you move up….LOL
its really all transplanted Long Islanders….who are originally from Bklyn anyway LOL
NP schools are awesome..lots of cultural arts programs etc…my kids love it…Meg is in Lenape..the 3-5 building and Kelly is just finishing in Duzine the k-2 building.
The MS principal is awesome and the school is tightly run
I live 15 minutes south of NP, in Gardiner and have a gorgeous view of the Ridge from my deck
Come visit! If you are house hunting and need a place to stay, just let me know We are in the phone book, but shoot me an email (eileenpmac@aol.com )

I remember having some great summer vacations at the Weldon House, but I was a little saddened to hear that it has fallen into such disrepair.

A friend and coworker got me hooked on New Paltz’s great rock climbing. Just outside the town there is a Farmer’s Market that makes an awesome almond poppy muffin. I also like the vineyards and the apple orchard nearby. As well as some nice places to eat, the town has a very friendly and eclectic feel.

Hey, if anybody is in the neighborhood, they are putting in a new store where Wetter’s used to be, they tore down the sign
from the pet store, and you could see the old stained glass
from Wetter’s saying Ice Cream, etc. I don’t know how long it will be visible, this site is great, I see a lot of names that I remember for myself, but also a lot from my sisters, Cathy, Colleen and Roseanne Flanagan. I am basically not too swift with the computer, but I will try to find my way back to this site. Carol Gogarty, I hung out with your brother Mike, how is he doing?

I also wanted to let people know that Joey Corrar died, I know there was a rumor a while ago, but it is true this time, he passed away on Sunday, his family is in the process of making arrangements with Smith’s, they are hoping for Thursday, with a Mass in Holy Name on Friday morning.

I think my original comment got deleted before it was posted.
They are renovating the old Wetter’s, it was a pet store for years. Anyway, they took down the pet store sign, and beneath it was the old stain glass border for Wetter’s , with the flowers and the words Ice Cream, etc. It really was a blast from the past, I don’t know how long it will be visible, I am sure they are in a hurry to put something new there, perhaps a real estate office, or a sushi restaurant?

Hey Steve, I think a great blog would be places worth traveling out of our neighborhood to eat. Just to name a few, Pizza at Spumoni Gardens, a pastrami sandwich at Katz’s Deli after practice at LaSalle, a calzone from Lenny’s on 5th, a knish and dog at Nathan’s in Coney Island , nowhere else counts.

Patty Larkin, you ROCK CLIMB???!! That’s awesome……I get scared halfway up into any situation and then lose my mind trying to get down! LOL I’ve traveled all over the world but struggle to rock climb. It’s ridiculous. Good for you.

Eclectic is my favorite place to live….that is what it’s like where we are now….and the sense of community in a place like that, as I see in New Paltz as well, is just amazing.

Eileen…we went into the school (the lower grade one) and spoke to a mom volunteering at the front desk, just in front of the office..she was sitting in for half an hour while someone went to lunch? Said she does it all the time..she was so nice. She showed us a website with the other school and spent half an hour telling us about the area and the sports……I couldn’t believe how nice she was.

Our only problem was the lack of lacrosse in the area. They’re big on the baseball but not much on lacrosse. Glad to know the swimming is huge there, though…..

I am going to email you..I just stuck you in my address book. We’re crazed busy for the next four days but then normal again….

HEY!! Thanks for the Candy Center Crunch. I’m going to try it!! I love that thing.

Patty….I had heard they closed completely so even though it is in disrepair, it’s okay with me that it has found some new strength recently.

Tell you what, let’s buy the place (I believe the McGoldrick’s still own it??) and revamp it for summer reunions. That’d be awesome. My kids said they had NEVER seen me that happy before. I loved that place..it is the reason I traveled to Africa..if I didn’t say that before……

hey thanx for the nomination of the “Fence Climbing Hall of Fame” Guys. it brings back so many memories i can thing of all the good ones we had. i remember Mrs. Drago aka The Mean Lady who , if the balls went into her yard she would never ever give them back to us when we played in the lot.
just remebering going to Ray’s & Otto’s to buy Spaldines……as we called them when we were younger…you know the pink rubber ball that had “Bounce”

Playing stick ball on 10th ave between 16th st and Windsor placebut we would use a broomstick till we could collect enough money together to be able to buy one $1.19 from Ray’s & Otto’s. reading all these great words you guys have written make realize the special times we had growing up……..Three Devils enough said….Cherry Hill the capitol of Hangouts in all of Windsor Terrace

you guys whoplay ball in the lot ….remeber the big giant rock between 1st and 2nd base…..one of the things i remember growing up was that everyone on your block new you!!!!!! parents and kids…..not today your lucky you know 3 or 4 of them

its great to have a site like this ……..so many great people from the old neighborhood on this site …..memories i can even count after reading some of theis stuff…………..nice to see you Eileen as well as you Annmarie……hope you are doing well …as well as your familiesa………..

oh by the way who’s idea was this to come up with this site “Container Diaries”…………Love It…….

Hi Betty, thanks for the greeting, all is well with the family, or
as well as can be expected these days! Willie Wickham, how are you? I just came onto this site in the past few days, and I saw your post re Harold from some months back. I can assure you, Harold is not reading this! He is resistant to technology, although he does have an answering machine. A quick story, he was in recently, and we made plans to go to the Botanical Gardens, I was at work on 9th St, so I told him I would meet him up by the monument on 9th St and the parkside at 12:30.
I ran a few minutes late, but he was there when I got there. Turns out, he thought I said 11:30, so, as he was waiting, he began to think he was wrong on the time, but since he does not own a cell phone, and there are no public phones around, he just waited. After that, he said he may reconsider getting one, but he does not have a computer. I have his number, you can call me at ——– Oh, how arrogant of me, I am just assuming you remembered me, it is a long time ago, anyway, if you don’t remember me, I assure you I am not a nut, it is safe to call for Harold’s number!

Hey Joey
I havent heard from karin kawas in years. Reading all the stories about Sherman Street has had me wondering how she is as well
I know Sandra Casagrande(little one) is living somewhere in Orange county, NY…she married a guy from HS who is a fireman. I see her every 5 years or so at reunions.
Which other Sandra?
I am still good friends with Dee Dixon, Kristin Rower and some of those “IHM” girls….Theresa McEvoy, Maureen Powell etc etc
Hey Mike Mardini! how are you?

Annemarie
Just found out this morning…New Paltz is starting a lacrosse team at the HS level so its only a matter of time b4 the townleagues start in order to train the kiddies! And Highland- one district over_ also started a HS team this past year
So it is coming……………..

MAUREEN FLANAGAN! Not THE Maureen Flanagan? The RICE threw me when I read your post about Joey Corrar. Of course I remember you! As far as I know I’m not yet into having senior moments. Sounds like Harold is, though. No computer? No cell? WHAT does he do? We’ll all have to let it be known that we are talking trash about him online. Then he’ll get a computer just to find out what we’re saying.

Thanks for the phone number. I’ll call. Now, I don’t want to get preachy, but it’s not a good idea to put your phone number on a message board like this where it stays forever and any whacko who happens in sees it. Now, I’m not calling any of the present company whackos but who knows who might show up. Mousey? Deadwood? So, it should be taken off now that I have it.
I will try this:
ATTENTION MR COACH
PLEASE REMOVE MAUREEN’S PHONE NUMBER FROM #436

My brother Scott just told me about this site, I think it is great. Just reading some of the names and stories brings back alot of memories. Steve how is your brother John, last time I saw him was at the WTC. I will be reading on, this site is addictive.

Hi Billy LaVassuer its me Lori Jo, Lisa and I were sitting here together at her house and reading the website saw your name up and wanted to say hi,, remembering all the great times and funny funny stories, hope all is well with your family how is your mom loved seeing her last year it was great hope we do it again and mayber you will be there next time,,, Love to all and hope to see you again

Hey Maryann just saw your reply, great to hear from you,, how is Jimmy and the kids hope you are all doing well, talk to Patty and Lisa Balzano all the time and talk alot about high school years its always always fun,, love to hear from you again,,, Love to all

In September 1967 Mr. Fogarty visited me in Methodist Hospital as I had busted up my leg in a few places while sliding into 2nd base at the Parade Grounds playing baseball for Holy Name. He made certain all hospital and doctor bills were paid for and kept tabs on me. A good man who looked after the kids in Holy Name. Rest in peace Mr. Fogarty.

to all my friends and the people of good old park slope,and the boyz.i just heard about the website from doreen kawas.
it’s great to have a chance to hear about the neighborhood
i used to live on 8th ave between 15 and 16 street,sorry to hear about joey,new him well.got to love that farrells beer.was just there last week with duffa{john powers}.i really miss the hood,miss the people and friends.i live in p.a. now anybody want to come visit just give me a message…..waiting for response…nems

I was just remembering all of those summer nights when we would hang out on 10th avenue… when we got too loud that old lady would throw water on us.

Do you remember when we had that sweet 16 for Patty and Regina in my basement? Your cousin (who Andrea was in love with) asked her what time it was and she actually turn her wrist to look at her watch with a drink in her hand….needless to say he was wearing her drink.

My brother Jerry and I were just talking about you and your sister Laurie a few weeks ago. We used to have lots of fun on 8th avenue when we were little kids. My two brothers and I all live in NJ now. I reading love the blog, it’s nice to know what’s going on with everyone from the old neighborhood.

Hi Lori,
Its been a long time. How are you? Hope all is well. Mom and Dad are doing well, it’s her birthday on Monday. I was reading that you have 4 children, you have your hands full. I have a boy, 19 yrs old in Pace U, and my daughter, 17, just graduated HS… going to Iona in Sept. I’m sorry I missed the dinner. Hope to see you soon.

Hey Fin – I was at my parents house yesterday for Father’s Day. My sister Eileen & her husband Russ Baranik were in from Vegas. Their friend, Billy Campbell showed up & he had copies of pictures from the Container Dairy. He doesn’t even have a computer & he knows about the site. Just more proof that this site is spreading like wild fire. Thanks for the site & keep up the great work. Karen

Does anybody remember the Farrell’s softball teams,when they were winning.The drinking we did after the games win or lose.Teams like kelly’s,Terrace cafe,John’s pub,Ryans,Parkhill.
Look to hear from all

Denise ,I am Mary’s son.I live in Tampa now.I am doing fine,love the weather and enjoying my retirement.Don’t hear much about the old neighborhood,just when I come up for football games in Jan. to see Kelly,Trapp,Kawas,Meyler.Hope to hear from you again

Hi Jimmy great seeing you at Tommy C party. How long are you down florida?? Jimmy, Irish and Michael seem to be looking like one another as they age. What do u think?? Jimmy my best to your wife, have a great day.

Great to hear from you Jimmy. Do you keep in touch with Patrick? The last time I saw him was at my daughter’s wedding in June of 2006. Otherwise, it’s just Christmas cards every year. I’ll have to drop him a line. How is Linda? Tell her I said hello. I don’t know how you guys stand the heat down there. It’s bad enough here lately. Well it’s good to see you on here. Hope to keep in touch.

Linda’s doing fine.We talk to Patrick every week.As a matter of fact He is coming down for Christmas to spend a week with us.As far as the heat, I have adjusted very well,Linda on the other hand as some problems with it when working outside.You have to get outside work done early in the morning or not at all.Talk again soon

Just found out about your blog. It is the best thing on the web! What a tremendous forum you are providing for people to celebrate their Windsor Terrace roots. Just know that Chris Johnson, Terry Greene, Kevin O’Donnell and myself think about you often, and we are so happy that you followed and achieved your basketball dreams. Not many people take the thing they love to do and make it their life’s work. You did, and that is truly a great achievement. (We miss playing ball with you as well!)

Hey Gina Tarrapino, is that really you from Temple Ct.?
If so, I can’t believe it. This site is awesome. My best little kid friend. Where did we go….
And for you, Michael Layden, how the hell are you. I see you forgot about the other girls you hung with….me & Janice O.
Come on Mike we walked to school for years. And remember, the early bird catches the first worm, on our way to Ford. I gotta tell ya we all had the best growing up years in that neighborhood. Miss ya all & the times we had.

Would love to hook up if you come back in August. If its on a Saturday in the day, we can visit Chris Johnson at the 12st street bar, he works the day shift. Coffee, soda readily available. Lots of NBA to discuss.

This is a great website! I see alot of people on here from the old neighborhood. Windsor terrace was the perfect place for any child to grow up on. I remeber 10th ave was constantly a buzz with sports like stickball, wiffle ball, football, man hut or coco levio, bloody mary and all that fun stuff. people like patrick smith tim odea anthony caccamo bob galvin jb mccall steve oconnor jim mcloskey elmo and everyone else made it a great child hood. I am married now 3 kids living in sheepshead bay. its nice here but i still drive by looking for those old familiar faces that bring me back when i was a child

also i lived there i guess over 20 years and my family is still lives near the theater ( i remember when it was sanders and it was closed and we broke it to hang and drink beer)used to be 41 ppsw)
my uncles would like to know who is still around in the neighborhood or where have they gone? my uncles are angelo and john sarris. s so if you have any infomation or like to contact me my email address is atg51169@aol.com

Your Post on reading and libraries is excellent. Here is an article written by Pete Hamill in the New York Times 20 years ago describing his experiences in one of the libraries you mentioned: the 6th avenue and 9th street branch.

D’Artagnan on Ninth Street: A Brooklyn Boy at the Library
By PETER HAMILL; PETE HAMILL IS A NOVELIST AND SCREENWRITER. SINCE WRITING THIS ESSAY HE HAS BECOME A COLUMNIST FOR THE NEW YORK POST.
LEAD: THE library was on Sixth Avenue and Ninth Street on the south slopes of the Brooklyn hills and for a long time in my young life it was the true center of the world.

THE library was on Sixth Avenue and Ninth Street on the south slopes of the Brooklyn hills and for a long time in my young life it was the true center of the world.

The formal name, back then, was the Prospect Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library, but to me it was always just The Library and it remains that way in memory. I seem always to have gone there on Saturday mornings, following the same route each time, hurrying past the grocery stores, bakeries, drugstores and bars of Seventh Avenue. At the corner of Ninth Street, I turned left and the broad street dropped away into the distant jumble of the waterfront. On clear mornings, I could see past the elevated tracks of the IND subway and glimpse the Statue of Liberty in the harbor and the vertical smudge of the skyline of Manhattan. But usually I ignored the view. I was locked into a sensuous, almost religious ritual, with the holy sanctuary of the library drawing me like an iron filing to a magnet.

I can feel now the way my blood quickened as I crossed the trolley tracks, passed the stately brownstones and the small synagogue and saw ahead the wild gloomy garden behind the library. As a gesture of support, I would run a finger along the menacing iron pickets of the garden’s fence. I wanted that fence to stand forever, holding back the jungle; each spring, the riot of weeds and nameless plants seemed to grow more menacing. I sometimes imagined it spilling into the streets, marching steadily forward to link with Prospect Park. Or it would turn to the nearest target: the library itself. The vengeful blind force of untamed nature would climb those granite walls, seep under the windows and assault the books, those sheaves of murdered trees, sucking them back to the dark earth.

But then I would glance through the immense windows, relieved: the books were still there. Turning at Sixth Avenue, I would look up, feel momentarily dwarfed by the majesty of the mock Corinthian columns that framed the entrance. Then I would take the wide granite steps two at a time. Into my second home. I was 10 the first time I took that journey alone; I kept taking it until I was 17 and went off to the Navy.

Inside, behind walls as thick as any true fortress, I always felt safe. The high-roofed building was warm in winter and cool in summer, and although it seemed built to last forever, and the sense of space was unlike anything I knew except the lobbies of movie houses, the attraction was not merely shelter. I was there on a more exciting mission: the discovery of the world.

In those years during and after the war, I was a citizen of a hamlet we all simply called ”the neighborhood” (now cynically renamed the South Slope by real estate developers). There were strict rules (Pay Your Debts, Don’t Cross Picket Lines, Don’t Squeal to the Cops, Honor the Old) and powerful institutions (the church, the police station and Rattigan’s Bar and Grill). There was wisdom in the hamlet, of course, and honor, and the safety of the familiar. But within the boundaries of this working-class parish there were also men who gave it a dangerous edge: sallow-faced characters with gray fedoras and pinkie rings who carried guns under their coats; youth gangs called the Tigers and the South Brooklyn Boys, who wore pegged pants and rolled through the streets with the swagger of victorious armies. There were homeless rummies too, and deranged vets still fighting Tarawa or the Hurtgen Forest, and cops on the take and brawling dock wallopers and apprentice wise guys. As a boy, I was afraid of them, a condition that went beyond the normal fears of childhood. But I knew one big thing: none of them ever came to the library.

So, in one important way, the library was a fortified oasis. At the same time, it alarmed me. The books seemed to look down upon me with a wintry disdain. Most certainly they were adult, and I stood before them as an ignorant child. They knew what I did not know; they were, in some ways, the epitome of the unknowable, full of mystery and challenge and the most scary thing of all, doubt. The harder I worked at cracking their codes, the more certain I was that the task was impossible. I will carry that awe before the printed word to my grave.

At first, in my tentative probes of the Caliph’s palace, I was condemned to the children’s room. I liked the bound volumes of a magazine called St. Nicholas, full of intricate pen drawings and the cheery innocence of the 19th century. I read through most of Robert Louis Stevenson (enthralled by ”Treasure Island” and ”Kidnapped,” disturbed by ”Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” defeated by ”The Weir of Hermiston”); Dumas pere thrilled me with ”The Count of Monte Cristo” and ”The Three Musketeers”; I consumed ”Howard Pyle’s Book of Pirates.” But the rest of the books meant nothing to me; they all seemed to be about kids living in idyllic country glades, rabbits who talked and an elephant named Babar who had adventures in Africa. Outside the library, I was already traveling through the Africa of Burne Hogarth’s comic-strip version of ”Tarzan” and plunging into the South American forests of Bomba the Jungle Boy. When I read ”The Count of Monte Cristo,” I began to think of the children’s room as another version of the Chateau d’If.

BUT even in that brightly lit cell, a peculiar process had begun. On the street, I consumed the artifacts of what is now called popular culture: comics, movie serials at the Minerva and the Globe, boys’ books that were not in the library (Bomba, the Buddy series, Tom Swift, even G. A. Henty) and radio serials about Captain Midnight, the Green Hornet, Captain Silver and the Sea Hound. Out there, I was swept away by the primary colors of melodrama.

The library took that instinct for the lurid and refined it. The books that were talked about in schoolyards and on rooftops gave me a need for narrative, for removal from the dailiness of my life. But they stood in relation to the books in the library as the raw does to the cooked.

At first, I didn’t know one writer from another. It didn’t even occur to me that books were actually written by a lone man or woman sitting somewhere at a desk. They were there on the shelf and you took them down and opened them and began to read. To this day, I don’t remember learning to read any more than I remember learning how to breathe. And in those years, I read books with a joyous innocence I’ve only rarely felt in all the years that followed. I had not begun to read, as I do now, as a writer; that is to say (in Stevenson’s phrase), I was not reading as a predator.

Looking back, it’s clear to me that I was reading as a creator, bringing myself (and comics, radio, movies, the street) to a collaboration with the writer in the invention of an alternate world. These books were not collections of abstract symbols called words, printed on paper; they were real events that had happened to me. So I was Jim Hawkins. I was Edmond Dantes. I was D’Artagnan. I hid from Blind Pew. I discovered the hidden grotto. I fought duels with the henchmen of the evil Milady. But alas, I also discovered early that telling these tales to my friends could sometimes provoke boredom or scorn; the stories then became part of my buried private history, another solitary vice.

When I escaped at last from the children’s room, I felt like an explorer who had been handed a map written in invisible ink. As in life, one thing always led to another. At 14, I was trying to understand Latin at Regis High School. In the stacks at the library, this led me to Stevenson’s ”Virginibus Puerisque,” which I still read for pleasure and reward; to Cyril Connolly’s ”Unquiet Grave” (the byline read ”by Palinurus”), and though I surely understood virtually nothing it said, and skipped all the passages in French, I was consumed for a week by its mood of romantic loss. I pored over a translation of Cicero’s accounts of murder trials. I took home a book called ”Daily Life of the Romans” and copied most of the line drawings of free men and slaves. None of this helped me much with Latin, but the journey did take me to the meditations of Marcus Aurelius, and that splendid book was to help me through the brief anguish of losing all faith in religion.

Other books provoked similar journeys. The Bomba books led me to the geography section of the library, to volumes about South America, to a biography of Simon Bolivar and the fevered discovery of the existence of the great Chilean Bernardo O’Higgins, as Irish as I was, the liberator of his country. In that time, I often rode through the Andes of my imagination, a member of a revolutionary army, about to charge hard upon the hated viceroys in the capital; or I was an old man, seeing the revolution betrayed, saying (with Bolivar): ”I have ploughed the seas.” These were wars, conflicts, tragedies in the real world, but they were not taught in our schoolbooks, and so they became (I arrogantly thought) my own private discovery. If you lived in Brooklyn in those years, you said words like Caracas and Lima, Cartegena and Bogota, the Amazon and the Orinoco, as if they were digits on a secular rosary. Years later, I would travel this private tributary to school in Mexico City, to Diego Rivera, David Alfaro Siqueiros and Jose Clemente Orozco, to Carlos Fuentes and Octavio Paz, Luis Bunuel and Jose Luis Cuevas, Jorge Luis Borges and Julio Cortazar, the granite of Neruda and the magical groves of Macondo.

The library taught me one other thing that has survived and expanded through the course of my life: the love of books themselves as objects. I came to love the feeling of a well-made book, the look of type on fine paper, the leathery worked splendor of certain bindings. I even loved the aroma of certain books, the smell of drying paper, the moldy fragrance of the past. This also has a context: I grew up as the oldest son of seven children of Irish immigrants; we were, I suppose, poor; there were always books in the house but none of them were very fancy. The library allowed me to borrow the first beautiful things I ever took home. When I was not reading them, I would place them on tables, on the mantelpiece, against a window, just to be able to see them, to turn from dinner and glance at them in the next room. I hated to bring them back, and often borrowed some books three or four times a year, just to have them around. As a result, I am today one of those people with a book jones. There are 10,000 books in my library, and it will keep growing until I die. This has exasperated my daughters, amused my friends and baffled my accountant. If I had not picked up this habit in the library long ago, I would have more money in the bank today; I would not be richer.

In short, the library was a place where most of the things I came to value as an adult had their beginnings. Art was there, poetry, history and words. Millions of words. Trillions. Politicians have come and gone since many of them were written, empires have risen to temporal glory and collapsed into decay. But those words remain as powerful as they were when I was a boy and will be there long after I’m gone. I went to the library in a different time, of course, during the last years before the arrival of the great obliterating force of television. I went to the library in search of entertainment and discovered the world.

Today, kids don’t seem to embark on that exhilarating journey as often as they did when I was young. Politicians keep chiseling away at the branch libraries, truncating their hours, reducing their staffs. The dumb forces of darkness still riot in the garden. But there, through the windows, you can still see the shelves. The books stand in eternal wintry challenge, full of wonder, fear, certainty and doubt, just waiting to be opened. Hey, young man, hurrying by, a Walkman plugged into your skull: pause a moment, mount those steps and enter. The world awaits you.

This Friday night, July 25th, STEVE JOYCE and his band will be playing at the Greenhouse Cafe in Bay Ridge. They play all the great songs of the ’60’s. They start at 9:30 and go to about 12:00 midnight. The Greenhouse is on 3rd Avenue between 76th and 77th Street. I’m sure many of you remember Steve (a really great musician) who still lives in the neighborhood. So, if you can, come out to Bay Ridge on Friday night, I know you’ll have a great time.

I grew up on Windsor Place (#98) and graduated HNS in 1971. Classmates that come to mind were Dan Mahoney (who lived next door @ 96), Gerard Kash, Joseph Harouni, Charles Alberti, Joe Farrell and George Brossard.

You may also remember my brother Paul who was class of 1973.

Growing up in Windsor Terrace in the 60’s & 70’s defined the word neighborhood.

Just want to say what a beautiful day we had at the Vinny brunton golf outting It was good to see faces i grew up with . And now i can put some faces to this site .RED wish u coud have made it . would have been right up ur ally THANKS to all the people who made it happen THANKS to the people who came we made it a GREAT DAY IN HONER OF OUR GOOD FRIEND CAPT. VINNY BRUNTON

Hi Steve McLaughlin, the name caught mt attention, don’t know if you remember me but was once good friends with Paul. This is a terrific web site for old neighborhood friends to re connect. Please say hello to Paul for me.

Hi Steve, thank’s for the note. Everything is great here, hope the same for your’s and Paul’s as well. Patrick lives in NJ and i moved back to windsor terrace a couple of years ago…still a great neighborhood. I’m not sure if Gerard is still around, really don’t see many familar faces. Nice to connect with you. If you guys will be at Farrell’s on 8/23 i will make a point to stop by…take care.

HEY PABLO, Holy Moley…talk about a blast from the past. All off the old crew are doing well, espo, quigs, rocky and recently seen Liz on the avenue…been too long paul, HOW ARE YOU? Give me a call, i’m listed (Bklyn) and if i’m not there leave a number, i work crazy hours, OK.

Hey Tim, Long Time. Not this weekend but the following my brother and I are planning a trip back. Let’s get together and have a beer. Hope your well and I’ll look your number up. Say hello to everyone for me.

Haven’t seen anything about the Over 20 club from Holy Name (in the 60’s) – Alex Fazio, Alan Maloney and many others were involved in the club as well as cabanas in Breezy Point. Most of the comments are the “younger” crowd so where are all the mature Holy Namers???

Joanne I did see a writing from Alan Maloney, somewhere in this memory lane. The over 20 club, wow you guys did alot of things, concerning that club, I was born in 50 so a bit before my time, just a tad bit. How long was that club in progress?? I have older siblings and they were involved.

Joann just talking to my sister Mary Trapp (Murphy) and she said to say hi, and was so happy to hear you wrote into the Container Diaries. Joann im sorry its wasnt Alan who wrote in it was Billy Maloney a real nice gentleman, the brother of Alan of course. Mary told me you also came from 12street, and John came from 14st. She also was asking for your brother tommy who she had alot of fun with, they went to the Worlds Fair. You brought a big smile to my sister Mary.

I remember my older sister going to the 20 and over club on Sunday mornings after Mass. I think it was around 61′ or 62′. A couple of times I went along with her (I was only 8 or 9yrs old) . They served coffee and rolls and buns from L&J’s ,so I got a free breakfast. She was part of the ” older crowd” that had hung out on the parkside between 10th &11th ave’s in the late 50’s. I remember last names as Nader,Volpe,Bush ,Cumm, Garrity (sp?). Anyone remember ” fat Richie” the strange guy who use to bother all the young girls on that stretch or the parkside ?

Betty, that is great, I am going to have to get someone with
computer skills to print that out for me, I am afraid if I hit print, I will get all 500 comments!!! By the way, coach, congrats on that. Back to the poem, I love the principle behind it, and can
achieve the non-judgement at times, but it is a constant struggle. The line about standing in the garage is one I have never heard, and it is priceless. Whenever I find myself in judgement mode, I try to remember the saying ” people who judge don’t matter, and people who matter don’t judge’

PV is the best! No one comes close. I have also had the pleasure of return emails from him. I asked him why he doesn’t write a book and he said he never will. Tell me he wouldn’t have the best stories. I have been reading him for a long time.

It was a hot, 90 degree plus summer day in 1968 up at the zoo where a bunch of us neighborhood guys were working the outside concession wagons selling everything from hula hoops to cracker jacks. The seal pool was just re-surfaced and a new filter system put in. At around 5:00PM, myself and Timmy Mullins (recently deceased, Denis Hamill wrote a great article on Tim)got the bright idea to take a dip. With our “parky-type” uniforms still on we both jumped in. It was GREAT! Immitating seals, who had yet to be put back in the pool, by barking and jumping off the top part of the concrete seal hangout was hillarious and a small crowd of people were taking it all in. Finally, two very understanding cops told us to get out—no harm done— “Just get lost!” My personal best day at the zoo!

Hey Bobby Trapp–Great job keeping the ’60’s HN school yard memories up! Remember the pull-up bar in the girls schoolyard close to the avenue? I particularly recall George Bruns playing in the summer league — picked up by the old Long Islanf Nets.
Please give my regards to all the Trapps–a great family!

Hi Everyone—In ref to Mz Millers artical–I sent this to the Editor of the Daily News–I hope they print it—-Farrells Bar & Grill is what makes Park Slope special – and so are the people who were born and raised there. People who will come from far and near when there is a need – like keeping Holy Name School from closing. Enjoy your $10.00 glass of wine in Curleys bar across the street — I will be in Farrells, enjoying my free beer – It will be on the house, because Hooley hasn”t seen me for a while – and thats what neighborhood friends do. They may have raised the price of houses in Park Slope- but it’s not a better class of people buying them!!!! Kathleen Gorman Farrells Fan Born and Raised in Park Slope

Hi all, does anyone remember Jack’s shoe store? The son used to put nails in his mouth and then take them out one at a time and hammer them into the soles of the shoes, while you sat in the old wooden booth with the door in front and placed your feet on the little stool provided for you. Incredible!!!

I’d love to hear from you and see how everyone is doing. While browsing through this site I found a comment from Dee Farney from Temple Court – you were neighbors with the Farney’s (Karen, DJ, Susan, Christine, Richie, Skippy). Her email is kats40@aol.com if you’d like to drop her a note. I’m going to send her a note to say hi myself.

There are so many great childhood memories of Windsor Terrace and Temple Court. It warms me up inside when I think back at them. Nothing could ever compare. We were innocent kids 5, 6, 7 years old or maybe even younger and now here we are all these years later looking back at our younger years and all the good stuff and reminiscing.

Anyone else please feel free to send me an email to chat and catch up – it would be great to hear from you.

Dear Stephen, I am so sorry I didn’t get to talk to you the day of your mom’s Mass. First, let me say I am so sorry for your loss.
Your mother left this world in peace. No pain or fear. She was loved and cared for till the end of her life. She truly was a courageous woman. She faced some unbearable circumstances at different times in her life with strength and humor. I was and am, in awe of her spirit and her determination to go on in spite of the odds.. She was in deed loved and respected and she is missed by both Maureen and I. She brought a love and affection to our house that will never be replaced. From everything I’m told she was very happy living here with us in Keyport. She adjusted well to the move and made friends easily. The last three years I hope were as happy for her as they were for us. As we get older Stephen, we realize life is far too short and that sometimes there’s not enough time to say the things that are in our hearts. Live and Love Life to the fullest, with no regrets. I wish you peace.

Steve McLaughlin – how are you doing? This is a great site – great memories from the old neighborhood. I would have graduated in ’71 with you guys, but my Mom died and we moved out to Long Island in ’70…so missed out on going graduating and going to HS in Bklyn. The guys you mentioned in earlier blog – boy I remember them…Dan Mahoney (“Snowman”), George Brossard, Harouni (he and I had a race on who wrote the most book reports in 6th grade), Charlie, Joe, and Gerard…

I hope all is well with you, I guess you are around city as you said you were going back to the neightborhood. I’m in Maryland, just north of DC.

For some reason, I keep thinking you had a nickname, “Yates?” Something like that… is that right? where did it come from?

Went to see Ronan Tynan last night at Bishop Ford. What an opportunity… to have this massive talent performing just a 10 minute walk from Windsor Place. He put on a great show. I bumped into many familiar faces and some I havent seen in sometime. The next time Ronan Tynan performs at Bishop Ford I highly recommend that you go. To have a performance like this…so close to home doesn’t come around to often.

yo yo yo coach red what up. thanks for the name drop. hope all is well. not a day goes by that i dont think how you gave me the confidence to be the player i was. wish you stayed around because i would have been that much better. i was not a holy name boy, bay ridge all the way you know that man. remember your white car going around watching all the games to scout teams. well hit me up to catch up. 23 23 23 all the way every day best ply ever.

Hey, Coach–Keep it up. Great memories. My brother Joe tipped me off to the Diaries and I have been lurking for a while so I thought I’d throw something out there.

Last night we held the first practice of my daughter’s 8th grade team that I coach and it got me thinking of the crazy times we had on Holy Name’s BB teams back in the early 70’s.

Pretty much the same team was together from 6th through 8th grade, built around Joe Santos at guard and Tommy Ferro in the post, with a supporting cast of Michael Routhier (fastest kid in Bklyn), Artie Lee (best rebounder), Jimmy Martin, Pat Walsh, Mike Cronin, Mike Larkin, Danny Raymond, and yours truly. If memory serves, we had Al Lopez one year and Edgar DelaRosa another. We could do some damage and got pretty deep into the playoffs one year–lost to a St.Thomas Aquinas team down at the OLP gym (with the old bowling alley in the basement) featuring Chris Mullen’s brother. Had a big fight at OLA another year (or every year) outside that upstairs gym with the low roof! Practiced down at John Jay and IS 88s.

For coaches we had Mr. McNally, then Chin Gruschow (remember the Fu Manchu stash?), then Franny Napoli’s sister’s boyfriend. Mrs. Gruschow even coached us for a few games when Chin was MIA.

Ultimate memory: The time Bro. Lawrence took us on a road trip to the basketball Hall of Fame and we got kicked out cause we tried to steal Calvin Murphy’s Niagara College jersey right off the mannequin. You can take the Boys out of Brooklyn, but…

Jim yes great memories, especially about the two great coaches, McNally and Chinman, who could be still missing in action!!!!!!!!! Na just kidding, he was too much, talked to him about a yr ago when his mom passed away, and sounds great. So glad you wrote in, instead of just being a silent reader like many are right now.!! You hear me all!!!!! Please make a change like jim and share some of your memories especially from the older group, more my age!!!!!!!!! We need you all. Jim I remenber your dad, a real nice man, always gave me a nice smile and a big hello. THANKS

Just Found me. My mom happened to be over today and we read your stories. My mom said anytime you want meatballs come over. Please email me at acirillo1@nyc.rrr.com and I will send you my phone number. Billy thanks for being honest about the sex, my mom still does not believe it.

Hey Harry Mills, I remember when you , my brother Ed and I would go to [ I think it was Morans] Off of Coney Island Ave. and drink beer till the wee hours of the morning. I was only 16 at the time, you guys used to sneak me beer. Then when we left you would be calling to that freak that used to hang out acroos the street from there. I can still hear you ‘Chubby,, hey Chubby”. Do you remember that?

Grew up on 15th St during the 70s & 80s I have many fond memories of the greatest neighborhood in Brooklyn, I would love to hear from ANYBODY who remember me. I have served 3 tours in Iraq, and am getting some payback for what was done to OUR city.

hi gary— how have you been all these years ? how’s eddie ? i talked to him maybe 10 yrs or so ago via e-mail or classmates.com. are you guys still upstate ? we had alot of late nights down there. we used to always sneak a qt. of blackberry brandy into the mens room and move a tile and leave it on the drop ceiling, and we’d all be hitting it all nite long. then the next time we’d go there, we’d sneak another one in and reach up into the ceiling and push the empty to the back and so on and so on. the bartenders always wondered why we were getting so smashed on the small goblets of beer we had on the bar. tell eddie i said hello.

Harry, my brother is doing good, yeah we’re still upstate. I’m getting old man, 50 now. Scary. Learned about this site from Mike Patino. You probably remember his brother Tommy. It’s great to talk to you again. Lets try and keep in touch. Hope all is well. Take care. Talk again soon.

During moments of solitude, I often find myself thinking back to the “Growing Up” days in Park Slope. When I came across this blog, I was amazed at all the people, and places that I had actually forgot about. Now at 45, It’s an amazing feeling to know that the same people that I hung around with are just like me, looking back. Do you remember the days of partying up at the old horse coral? or at the bottom of suicide hill, mooning the cars at night as they drive by? Remember the day after the 4th of july when every kid in the neighborhood was up at the crack of dawn to find all of the unexploded firecrackers in the hope of making the ultimate BOOMB? or how about those trucks that used to come through the neighborhood with thoses small rides on the back??? The memories just keep flooding back. It is sad to lose track of people. People like Kenny Read, John Rowland, John, and Michael Karvounos, Ralph Connoly, Michael, and David Mardini (and thier sisters too).
I was telling my brother about one of my recent trips back to New York City, and that I went back to the old neighborhood. He told me that I was just chasing ghosts. Well that maybey true, but I always leave with a smile on my face, and peace in my heart.

Well, after graduating from HighSchool (Fort Hamilton/81) I joined the military. At such a tender age, it was quite an experience hanging out with people that had just returned from Viet Nam some 5 years earlier. It made me gow up quick, because nobody was going to take care of me except me. I have been proudly serving this country for a bit over 27 years, and have NO plans to retire anytime soon. I would love to hear from anybody who remembers me, or if you just want to say hello……thats ok too.

Patrick Cullinan
I worked at La Salle as a teacher with Bro. Paul Carnicelli — he was at La Salle during part of the ’70’s and I think the early ’80’s. My Mom also worked at La Salle at that time, and my mother and I went with Bro. Paul a few times to the New Hankow Chinese Restaurant on 34th Street. Bro. Paul loved the religious life. His kidney failure didn’t bother him. In fact, he looked forward to the dialysis sessions because he liked to socialize with the other patients. There’s a photo of him at a La Salle picnic in 1983 at http://pcullinan.smugmug.com/gallery/921704_vbUVc#42113264_n6jKJ. [pcullinan@verizon.net]

Stories of hangin out at PS 154. I remember playin basketball with Brian Lang, G. Thomas, Steve Finnemore, Eric Swanson guys who were stronger & older than me teaching me how to play. I had to learn quick !!! I also remember playin stickball and hitting it over fence onto lower sherman or hitting houses accross the street. A
Anyone remeber Nats dry cleaners who used to provide thirsty kids with the milk sized container of water in the summer?
Who recalls some of us who used to scale the bricks using the pipe to get on the roofs of the buildings in school yard to retrieve our tennis, spalding, or blue stickballs?

Hey Red, Thanks for the kind words. I get a lump in my throat everytime I go to the site. Hope you’re doing well. I always had a lot of respect for you because you didnt drink and were still one of the funniest guys around. Great ball player and a better person.

Wow…my neighbor and best friend was Tom Layden. We actually lived in Kensington (11218) on Seeley Street. My parents were married at Holy Name Church. I remember going to mass there on Sundays and an old priest would sing from the pulpit:”Oh my God, I believe in you…” This song would go on forever. After mass we would go to L&J Bakery to pickup a 7-layer cake. My sister Lynn went to Holy Name School from 1961 to 1968. It wasn’t until I was a teenager that I started hanging out on Jim Molloy’s porch, playing guitar to Jim’s sister Donna. We hung out with Gerard Haugh, Bill Purdy, Rob Labia, Jim Molloy, Tommy, Joe Interliggi, Bobby Artz, John DiMaio, John Grasso, Pete Iulo and forgive for forgetting names. I do recall on PPW (9th Ave) trying to find thre right key to open up the treasure chest full of toys at the shoe store. Also, the old men lining up at Farrel’s Sunday morning waiting for foe the doors to open. Remember when “Dog Day Afternoon” was filmed where the old warehouses were? It was a cold October when they filmed that movie! Do you remember the fight we had with the Spanish guys when we had that party in that small hall? One of the Spanish guys tried to set fire to the place while we were still in it. I remember the sad day when Al Colora (sic) died on Prospect Park SW skitching from a B-68 bus. The Huns…the Saxons…Flash Gordon (the old women usher who used to shine a flashlight in your eyes and tell you to get your feet off the seats! (By the way, Randy Mancuso was the one who threw the egg on the screen at the Sanders theater.) Unfortunately, the only time i find myself back in the neighborhood, is to attend a funeral, but we always stop at Farrel’s to toast the departed. Thanks for the memories.

Gina T., I hung with Skippy Farney. We used to play all kinds of sports and go to Manhattan Beach. I lived at 250 Seeley from birth (1957) to 1980. I hung out with Billy Simmons, Eddie Soper, knew Warren and had a tremendous crush on Eileen Kelly. She was the cutest thing in a peacoat and dessert boots. I knew the Slomen’s. We used to play stickball and slapball in front of the stores. We would torment the Chinese Laundry and hang out in front of the White Rock office. My first job was at Seeley Food Center. LeBlanc Pharmacy on the corner, Morris the Tailor, I could go on.

Red, I had to get rid of the Celtics jacket a few years back. I still play ball on Sunday mornings with a couple of Holy Name legends, Dan Conlon and Mark and Ricky Ferro. Once a week is all the kness can stand. Are you back out in Michigan??

Yes Dan, coaching on the juco level, Jackson Community College in Jackson, Michigan. (Who would’ve thought I would get into coaching?) I spoke at Timmy’s awards dinner at SFC when I was at Saint Peter’s with Bob Leckie.

I used to like the runs up at Ford with you and the others on Saturday mornings.

I attended LaSalle from ’74 to ’78 and ran track all 4 years. I remember you but I don,t recall what class you taught. I enjoy your website… brings back alot of memories. The lower East Side has changed a great deal since then. I recall Mr. Stephen Quinn also taking a great deal of photographs. Do you still work at LaSalle? I have been to the alumni website and would love to see photos from my tenure at LaSalle.

Hey Fiore,
How are you doing? It’s been a long time. Football games were rough on the Ave, gotta watch out for the laundry truck. Xmas in July, some of the guys still do it but down in New Jersey. Scott was always fast but he did not lose a step cutting. Believe it or not Chris was probably the fastest of all of us. Hope all is well.

Hey George Raheb how are you. I remember those guitar lessons on the porch. You even tried to teach me how to play, I lasted about a week. I think Donna tried a little longer but neither one of us had much musical talent. I could play a mean air guitar though, especially when I had my trusty boom box blasting some tunes. I told Jim about this site but I’m not sure he has checked it out yet. He’s doing well and living in New Jersey. Hope all is well with you and yours.

OMG, I remember La-La. I lived on the corner of Seeley Street and PPSW. (Across my courtyard was Tom Layden. We were childhood friends.) La-La chased us along the parkside. The kids were relentless with there torment. We did try to communicate with La-La…yes, he’d show the photos of his family. You could see how frustrated he was trying to communicate. Now that I look back at it, I feel sorry for this guy. Noone had any empathy or pity for him. It’s funny you brought up “Junky Joe”. Now I remember him. We’d scream out:”Hey, Junky Joe” and run as if he’d murder us.

Hello to all my old friends, I’m Susan Carlson, Keith’s sister and of course you all knew my dad Charlie, aka Mr C. My sister Karen turned me on to this wonderful site and I did peek at the pictures @ 154 and coney island and of your reunion last year, ” We’ve come along way baby” I’m living in Washington state since 1979. I joke that I came from The Big Apple and here Wenatchee is The Apple Capital of the World, married an apple farmer. you had to see this city girl on the John Deere tractor a far cry from riding the F train. Life has been good,married-divorced, I have a daughter who 28 now,married-widowed, through both marriages I have 9 grandbabies, oldest 29 youngest 7months and 2 great grands. Christmas can get crazy. I’m planning a trip home this spring, summer are you ready for another reunion…………………It sure has been fun reading and seeing all your names, harry-corrado-charlie, who’s cc and nancy- kathy g. I was in Farrels 5 years ago, I still think it’s the best beer by far. I hope this gets posted cause I’m raising my glass to Irish day the 16th and doubles for the 17th. Here’s to the Huns……

Wow…just found this site by chance and great memories of the old neighbourhood.

Hey Donald,
remember me? Jack…we basically grew-up together with Rudy, Nick Kantakusin and Ed and Mike Kelly. I lived on 13th, 8 ave right above the laudrymat. went to PS107 right across the street. and Holyname afterwards. the good old times to say the least.

just got back on this,of course i remember you ,you wrote my brother .how are time flys but memories always there .Like your parrot. remember eddie smith mini bikes and john who hope all is well ill check site again shortly wait for your reply also remember kid who lost arm in laundry never forgot that

I need a couple hints…its only been 20+yrs since I touched base.
I didn’t stray much from home, basically always hung-out on 13th street.
sure miss the handball & “off the point” games we had against 7th ave kids and among our selves right across the street in the school yard of PS107.

He once caught me playing hooky in the 3rd grade, scared me silly and guess what; never did miss school again until my teens at John Jay high school. That place really sucked!!! no good memories there.

john rice passed away last month like so many others gone too soon john rice i knew him since i could cross ninth ave
he was full of life till the day he died i’m thinkin a father to three great kids and a loving wife mary they met at 18 on hippy hill there are so many hapy memories thru all the phases of life and i walked thru lots with my friend john

So here’s to John Rice father friend talent john was my friend a flood of memories pass thru my mind when i heard the news from rondo we meet in holy name in 55 there was hippy hill the school yard so many adventures in the trolly barns which became bishop ford the nights in the gaslight in park slope johnny was the bartender there and at city lights there was always music crowds of people his son and his girls were children of ford john’s wife Mary loved the games at keyspan park i salute you john you will always be my friend

THE SHIRTS PLAY ROCKY SULLIVAN’S near ikea in redhood APRIL 17 brooklyn oldst and best

Pulling the Plug — By John Soltes
In the minds of the uninitiated, the decision on whether to ask the question usually lingers for a while. The consequences mean everything – the attendant’s entire image and persona are defined on the very words that emanate from their mouth. Should they ask, or would they sound too much like a square?

But tonight, on an unusually frigid evening in mid-October, everyone in line forfeits the question because they already know the answer. They’ve been here before. Some, only a few weeks back. Many, 30 years ago.

In the crowd of the 300 lucky ones and countless unluckies, everyone is a seasoned veteran. There’s no need to ask: what does CBGB & OMFUG stand for?

Originally it was owner Hilly Kristal’s attempt to compound the many different music genres he enjoyed listening to in December 1973, and planned on showcasing in his newly-opened underground club in downtown Manhattan: Country, BlueGrass, Blues.

The OMFUG? Other Music For Uplifting Gourmandizers, a.k.a, anyone who wanted to flex their eardrums. Kristal defines a gourmandizer as a “voracious eater” of music.

But soon the abbreviated rubric proved too constricting, so as CBGB progressed, it became a completely different monster – one that catered to any musician that could demonstrate originality, no matter the genre. This new criteria opened the door for such legendary performers as Patti Smith, the Talking Heads, Television, Blondie, the Ramones, Bruce Springsteen, REM, Sublime, Elvis Costello, the Shirts, and the Police, among others.

Kristal turned on a microphone for a torrent of talented performers in 1970s New York City, who, though still in their earlier stages, were ready to develop into full-blown acts. Kristal had them first. He let them play as nobodys, even though they were destined to become somebodys.

Tonight, Oct. 15, 2006, is the last night music will radiate from the tiny stage at 315 Bowery. After years of lease disputes over rent increases and unpaid expenses, CBGB is closing.

Tonight is a night for the has-beens, already-beens, and musically curious. Tonight is a celebration of 33 years of rock history, even if that history was dictated more by luck than skill.

*

The line starts forming hours before the doors are said to open at 7:30 p.m. No more tickets are available – they sold out in a record eight minutes when they went on sale fifteen days before – but that doesn’t stop the devoted from camping out and hoping someone has an “extra.” Some of the scarf-laden, bloodshot-eyed crowd is praying to the rock gods to somehow let the club overfill its capacity of 300 patrons. Just for one night – the last night.

They line up in droves: a few in the early hours, pushing hundreds as the night rolls on. They are dead set on their goals, but even if they fall short, they are still happy to be here. They know something historic is happening, even sans tickets.

The line works its way south from the front doors of CBGB at 315 Bowery near the eastern tip of Bleecker Street, which sits on a busy block a stone’s throw away from the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges.

Some call the neighborhood after its geographic truth – the Lower East Side. Others, usually those who can earn a buck from heightened business, call the neighborhood the East Village – as if attaching Greenwich Village’s namesake will dispel rumors of crime and degradation.

These optimists aren’t entirely selling a sham. Formerly the homeless district of New York, the neighborhood has revitalized itself and become nouveau chic a la TriBeCa and Boerum Hill. Some even call it NoHo (North of Houston Street), like its sister neighborhood to the south, the trendy SoHo.

Cynthia Carr of The New York Times dubbed the region the “Lower Worst Side.”

The line eventually makes its way to the end of the block and snakes around the northeast corner of E. 1st Street.

The weather is clear of precipitation, but unseasonably cold for mid-October. Temperatures have dipped to the point that every exhortation of “Anyone got a ticket?” is simultaneously accompanied by the sight of breath coming from the asker’s mouth.

Like a practical joke, ticket-holders and ticket-wanters, all combined into one line, stand next to retail space with signs stating: STORE FOR RENT and PRIME REAL ESTATE AVAILABLE.

There is a cacophony of news trucks scattered around the neighborhood. Some of the top-notch local anchors are assigned the story. Lou Young of CBS-2 sits in his van editing the package for the 11:00 p.m. newscast.

Each news outlet has domineering satellite towers that hover over the crowd, ready to transport the story of CBGB’s demise to the greater metropolitan area. The satellites leer over the crowd and CBGB itself, casting shadows of corporate might over the throng of anti-establishment types. For a scene that built its credibility on being shunned from the public, there are certainly many news organizations eager to watch its last breath.

The New York Police Department is out in full force. They’re taking care of crowd control, which is considerable. The police, usually the metaphorical “man” at such events, are also ushering along the many cars and tour buses that slow down outside the club as they pass the hoopla.

Traffic inches along, nearing a standstill, as drivers give off puzzled looks. Even though many of the passing drivers don’t know who is playing or what is happening, they take pictures anyway. Posterity is tonight’s theme.

One police officer leans over to a ticket holder and asks, “Who’s playing?”

“Patti Smith,” the ticket holder responds.

The police officer shrugs his shoulders, the name escapes him.

“The Mets are playing too,” he retorts.

*

It has been over a month since CBGB closed. Hilly Kristal sits in an unfurnished office on St. Mark’s Place, only a few blocks north from where his historic club used to pulsate.

His 74-year-old frame looks depleted, both from the loss of his club and the cancer eating away his lungs. He is happy to talk about CBGB, but his effusion comes out in short breaths. Every few seconds he needs to take a pause, less for dramatic effect and more because the chemotherapy he’s been undergoing has taken nearly all of his bite.

“When I’m home, I try to play the guitar and my fingers are not good from the cancer, the chemotherapy,” Kristal says. “But I’m trying, I’m trying.”

He slowly raises his right hand to his gruffy five o’clock shadow, even though it’s only 9:45 in the morning. He tugs on his mug, looking for the best words.

“It hurts,” he says laughingly.

Kristal’s unfurnished office is in the back of a storefront he recently moved into at 19-23 St. Mark’s Place, which sits beneath a Chinese restaurant called Grand Sichuan. The front of the store is in the process of being painted and set up to sell CBGB’s clothing line. As of now, plans to open another club are on hiatus.

He says there’s a place in Las Vegas that would be suitable, but New York City is where he would like to stay. The city of Boston has also offered a place. Though, when predicting profits, it looks like a Las Vegas venture would come sooner than anywhere else.

“Las Vegas?” he asks rhetorically. “Now I’m talking to a lot of the hardcore kids and the punk kids, bands and they’d love to have a place there. It’s a great stopover for touring.”

But opening up another club still rests on the shoulders of the bottom line.
“We’re trying,” he says. “All I have to do is get a little more money. Everything takes a lot of money.”

Kristal hopes a future CBGB in Las Vegas would be larger than the older club, perhaps as big a venue as Irving Plaza. He feels CBGB’s name holds enough weight that it can expand to bands that draw larger crowds.

Kristal’s math in figuring out the expenses for a larger club is simplistic. His type of business appears to be based more on handshakes than numbers.

“[Bands] have to have places to play, and you have to earn some money,” he says. “Some place that holds 350 people, you can make a certain amount. A place that holds 900, a thousand, twelve hundred, you can make a lot more.”

But he says CBGB, in whatever incarnation, will always serve smaller bands that don’t have the power to attract large crowds.

As for moving to Las Vegas himself, Kristal says he would still live in New York, but make frequent trips. In New York, he still has his children, mother and many friends. But his ultimate goal is to open two locations, what he would call CBGB West (in Las Vegas) and CBGB East (in New York).

*

A few hours before the doors open, Patti Smith and her band arrive with a camera in tow to take pictures of the crowd and CBGB’s façade. She gives off the aura of being one of the regulars – a member of the people, rather than the posh of the elite.

Patti Smith filled the coveted spot of being the final musician to sing at CBGB through the efforts of her longtime guitarist and artistic ingénue, Lenny Kaye, according to Kristal.

“He called us, and we arranged it,” Kristal says. “She wanted the last day so we gave it to her.”

Tonight, Smith will take the stage with Kaye and bandmates Jay Dee Daughtery (drummer) and Tony Shanahan (bass, keyboard).

The façade that she photographs is one of the iconic symbols of the club. The banner, which is the size of an average store front overhang, had original colorings of pure white with red lettering. But after years of graffiti, rips, bad weather, and usual wear and tear, the banner has been replaced. Tonight, the white is dirty and rips are apparent, but the red letters still pulse.

Right next door to CBGB’s overhang is the CB’s Gallery sign. This overhang is reversed in color, with a red background and white letters. The Gallery is another mini-club with bar, stage and seating. Tonight, it’s filled to capacity with people who couldn’t score a ticket for the concert next door.

Smith enters the front doors of the club, ready for her sound check and brief interview with the many journalists on hand. In her resolute self, she gives them all one word answers and poetic quips, even to simple “yes” or “no” queries.

She’s quoted by newspapers as saying, “I’m sentimental,” which on the surface sounds like an appropriate epitaph. But through these two words, one wonders if the artist has feelings of remorse, hurt, happiness, or nostalgia. What is she sentimental for?

Smith is the unofficial queen of punk rock, and also its original foremother. CBGB put her on the map, and she paid CBGB back by supplying them with legitimacy. She’s known the world over for her uncompromising creativity and scrubby looks.

Smith looks like she could be left standing in an ivy garden like a marble statue with roots and leaves growing around her, and a passerby would not blink an eye. She would not appear out of place in her gargoylistic demeanor. Her messy look is simultaneously oft-putting and attractive. Her sex appeal comes from both her mannerisms and the very looks that make her an outsider in the fashion world.

She played the club in the 1970s countless times, and was one of the first performers from the early punk scene to land a record deal. Over the years, though she could play to international crowds of decent size, she still returned to the stage that allowed her creative muscles to flex. She most recently played CBGB only a few months before in May 2006.

Smith has one stipulation during the sound check: once it’s over, all the journalists must leave. The actual concert is for the fans.

*

As construction workers toil on the new office and store, Kristal crosses his legs and leans back in his chair.

Within all of Kristal’s talks of the future, he constantly shifts the focus from his own desires to the needs of the musicians that play his stage. Like a watchful parent, he frets on expenses for bands and whether they will feel satisfied. At the present moment, he sees a lot of positives in Las Vegas, and many negatives in Manhattan.

“I mean I see what the costs are,” he says. “A band comes into [New York City], where are they going to stay? It costs them $150-$175 a night at a hotel. Parking is ridiculous. They can’t park their vans and their u-hauls. There [in Las Vegas], you could get a good room at the Sahara, one of those nice hotels, during the week for $40 a night. Parking is practically nothing.”

Catering to bands is something Kristal is famous for among musicians. His most important contribution is when he first came up with the idea of not having cover bands play CBGB. At first, it was a risk; few clubs were taking such a creative jump. But soon, it became the talk of the town.

“Well back in ’73, clubs didn’t let you do that,” he remembers. “I guess you could sneak in one or two, but if you didn’t have a big record out, they didn’t want that. They wanted covers. They wanted you to play things that people know. And when I came there, I felt originality was the most important thing in rock.”

Kristal also credits the musicians who at the same time were yearning for a place to showcase their talent.

“These other people wanted to play their own music, they had no place to play,” he says. “It’s not what I intended to do there, but that was what was happening. They just had no place to play.”

Still, Kristal wasn’t convinced original music from a bunch of nobody bands would translate into earnings. Although his rent in 1973 was only $700 a month, the tertiary fees added up.

But soon after holding some auditions with local talent, Kristal changed his mind. “A few musicians came in, and they played,” he says. “And I felt very good about it, letting them do their own thing. I think in any art form, I think that’s the most important thing. And rock ‘n roll is a serious art form. I mean it’s a pop art, but it goes in so many directions. Some I love, some I don’t love so much. But they come from inside the person, and I think that’s important.”

When Kristal opened up the floodgates and let originality in, the flood brought countless blurbs and cover stories in The Village Voice and 33 years of history in downtown Manhattan. CBGB arguably began a rock club movement that included famed establishments, Max’s Kansas City (glam rock), the Continental (hair and punk), The Club 82 (transvestite club), The Fez Club and the Coventry. CBGB wasn’t the first, but it was the one that would gain the most notoriety.

The seminal moment though, for Kristal, was when he decided to set his rubric in stone.

“When I saw there were more and more bands that just wanted to play their own music, and there was no place to play, I didn’t say they could play it, I said they have to play it,” he says with much pride. “And it changed things, it did change things.

And I think for the good, I think it made things more interesting – sometimes a little more agonizing and sometimes more interesting.”

The interesting part was the talent that made CBGB legendary: Patti Smith, Blondie, the Talking Heads. The agonizing, for Kristal, was that with the stipulation of original music came a crop of musicians a bit off-center, bands with such names as Urge Overkill, The Sic Fucks, Psycho Nurse, The Damned and Iron Prostate.

But like a cool grandfather, Kristal let it continue. And continue it did – into a brand name and a namesake. Eventually it was the trend to wear CBGB T-shirts and tank tops, be one of the 5,500 daily visitors to CBGB’s Web site, eat CBGB’s Punk Rock chocolate, and marvel at Absolut Vodka’s campaign espousing CBGB as the “Absolut Rock Club.”

Ongoing verbal battles take place everyday in music stores around the world over whether England or CBGB began the punk scene. Some side with the Ramones and CBGB, others with the Sex Pistols and London clubs.

There is no denying that for a club that held only 300 patrons, CBGB became mythical.

*

As the sound check occurs, the line outside continues to build. The attendants become more energetic with the arrival of Smith. A few of the patrons ask their neighbors if they would kindly hold their spot as they work their way up to the doors of the club to click a photo.

Nearly all of these questions are met with, “Yeah, sure.” The crowd, who meandered to this small section of the world from faraway places, is beginning to form its own culture, its own society of endurance as the minutes tick. They are becoming solidified.

This togetherness shows the characteristics of the crowd as a whole. Most of them are white, middle-aged, and wearing either CBGB T-shirts or similarly faded T-shirts with their favorite musicians. (Keith Richards is a hit.) Others are staving off the cold weather wearing sweatshirts with the names of public universities displayed from left to right. (UCONN is a hit.)

The crowd’s stage-diving days appear to be replaced with nine-to-five jobs, earlier bedtimes and New York Yankees hats. Many of them will hurry home once the concert is over to get up for work in the morning. But, tonight, they suck on their cigarettes like they were in their twenties and still had their whole life ahead of them.

Even though CBGB eventually became the scene of Mohawks, body piercing and tattoos in its last decade, tonight’s crowd is by and large from the earlier days. They’re more laid back, than jittery. They’re more marijuana, than designer drug. They’re more dazed, than confused. One ticket-wanter looks like Jerry Garcia with his gray curly hair bouncing up and down as he works the line asking for a ticket.

A man wearing a Vietnamese conical hat walks by. His name is Trigger, the infamous owner of the Continental, a dive bar/club housed just up the block that also recently stopped live music.

An elderly gentleman drives by on a motorized segue dressed in an effeminate pink trench coat with a plastic frog hanging around his neck. But rather than fitting in, these men are aberrations: a chance for the crowd to point and comment.

Most other days of the week, before the club’s fate was decided, these men would hardly raise an eyebrow to the younger concertgoers. But tonight is a chance for the older crowd, who moved onto bigger and better things, to reacquaint themselves with the scene they left behind – the scene they would have happily stayed with, if they could earn a living from its rebellion and musical adoration.

Meandering through the line is a homeless man with an open can of beer and plate of fried chicken. He wears a red flannel coat and a black Irish hat. His scraggly beard is white and varied in length. Every so often, while sucking on his bottom lip, he goes up to ticket-holders and asks if they would like some chicken, all the while singing an incoherent blues tune.

Unanimously the meal is denied with pleasantries and smiles, in that high-pitched voice set aside for young children, dogs, and homeless people.

“Oh, no, you go on.”

“Don’t let it get cold.”

“You have a good night.”

Giggles work through the crowd as the gentleman tries unsuccessfully to get someone to eat with him.

One’s immediate thought is that he saw the crowd in his nightly wanderings, and decided to work them for a bit of money. But the opposite is true. This gentleman is actually one of the reasons why this night is occurring. He’s more important than Patti Smith, Hilly Kristal, or any other musician that’s played CBGB, dead or alive. This gentleman is a member of that oft-overlooked, occasionally discomforting population of homeless persons who seek warmth and aid in the shelters of the Lower East Side.

In fact, the very brick building that CBGB is a part of is owned by the Bowery Residents’ Committee, a social service agency that offers help to the homeless of New York City, many of whom are mentally ill and addicted to drugs. The twelve windows above CBGB are not typical New York City apartments; they house down-on-their-luck souls trying to catch a break.

This flannel-wearing, fried chicken-offering man is from the ilk that shut down the party that lasted 33 years. For the liberal-voting, apartment-owning crowd, the dilemma is profound. Their playground is being locked up for good, but the person holding the key has been bettering the lives of the homeless.

*

The legendary nature is not only felt by Kristal, but also the bands that weren’t successful enough to have the thrill of performing at CBGB escape them. In the reminiscences of past performers, subjective terms like surreal, transcendence, and euphoria are thrown around casually. But since every performer uses some form of these words, there must be an underlying truth.

Mark De Gli Antoni of the band Soul Coughing says he knew the moment he stepped onto CBGB’s stage, he was stepping into history.

“Playing at CBGB’s was a transcendent feeling,” he remembers. “Like playing at the Fillmore in San Francisco or 1st Ave. in Minneapolis. The space had so much vibe.”

Because of CBGB’s setup, with the band so close to the audience, Antoni says the musician better be ready for scrutiny.

“The kind of room that forces you to face your maker,” he says.

Soul Coughing is forever indebted to CBGB because Antoni and his band caught their break as the house band at CB’s Gallery right next door.

“It’s where the rest of the world found us and decided we were cool,” he says. “Every show packed to the rafters, people dancing like crazy, we were so ‘in.’”

As far as CBGB closing, Antoni wasn’t too upset.

“If they could close the Roman Coliseum all those years ago, then they can close anything,” he says. “CBGB wasn’t some miracle of sonics. It was a place that an amazing scene of musicians had come from.”

Madina Salaty, a music booking agent for Swervedriver, a band that played the club, found that her experience watching another band, the Circle Jerks, perfectly encapsulated the CBGB scene.

“We went to CBGB’s to see the Circle Jerks who had just released a new album produced by Niko Bolas,” she says. “Niko was producing a Deborah (Debbie) Gibson album at the same time, invited her to a Circle Jerks recording session, and she ended up singing backup for the Circle Jerks on a song called ‘I Wanna Destroy You.’ So she was at the show and joined the Circle Jerks for that song, then actually did a stage dive. I thought, ‘Now, that is punk rock.’ It was very surreal.”

John Kimbrough of the band Walt Mink says there was much not to like about CBGB: the infamous bathrooms and small dressing room. But for him, the club served its purpose of putting the right people in the right place at the right time.

“We played there once for the ‘New Music Seminar,’ in 1992, and had a really good show,” he remembers. “After the show, Eddie Kramer, the legendary engineer/producer (Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin) came up to me and expressed interest in working with us. We hung out for a while, and I got to grill him about all my favorite records. That was amazing. Later in the evening, our publicist told us that, based on that show, we had been scheduled for an interview with Rolling Stone.”

On the window outside Kristal’s office right next to a “Wet Paint” sign is a large poster with the following quote from the deceased Tommy Ramone: “CBGB is a treasure of native New York culture. It was the original magnet that drew people from every corner of America to come to New York and participate in its rebirth.”

*

The club’s security is out in full force for the last concert. They are wearing black CBGB short-sleeve T-shirts, though they appear to be long-sleeve with all of the intricate tattoos running up and down their arms.

The ticket-wanters, after seeing the security prep the crowd for entering, quickly change their desperate pleas.

“Anyone got a ticket?” becomes “Extra?” The usual walk down the line now becomes a trot. Time is ticking.

A teenager named Matt Pless sets up camp on the corner of E. 1st Street to play a few tunes on his acoustic guitar. He opens his guitar case for donations and offerings to buy his self-made CD. Within a few seconds, he begins his toe-tapping, much to the amusement of the section of line closest to him.

“Let’s rock, the evening’s young,” he sings. “I figured I’d start where the party doesn’t stop.” He might have to rewrite that last line.

Right before the doors open to the public, Kristal enters the club. The drove of journalists and photographers snap pictures, though the frenzy is more subdued than Smith’s entrance. Kristal wears a blue baseball cap emblazoned with the four letters he’s built his career around.

Once Kristal is inside, the public begins entering furiously. Ticket-holders pass through the doors and have their name checked off a master list by a bouncer. No one has physical tickets in hand; all of the reservations were done by credit card via the Internet.

Once the concertgoer is checked off, they are ceremoniously branded with a white and pink paper bracelet. Each concertgoer is then handed a silkscreen handbill with psychedelic drawings reminiscent of Bob Masse’s posters for The Grateful Dead

The title of the concert, according to the handbill, is “The Last Chord.” Below the title and band member names are three horses emerging in full gallop from the Roman god Mars. Surrounding the god of war are drawings of horse skulls.

The poster was designed by Mark Arminski, a deity himself among rock artists. He chose the three horses and the drawing of Mars to honor the Equirria Festival, an ancient Roman holiday that took place on October 15.

“There are these three horses that are being raced, and the winning horse they slaughter and then offer his head up to the god Mars,” Arminski says. “I thought the whole thing was kind of apropos with the closing of CBGB’s and Patti.”

On the handbill, the soon-to-be slaughtered horse is colored pink; the two other equines are colored yellow. Coincidentally, Patti Smith’s first studio album, which was made up of songs she tested out at CBGB, is entitled “Horses.”

“Patti wanted to make sure that everybody there had something to leave with,” Arminski says.

The crowd has finally made it in.

The ticket-wanters are all ushered aside, their quests have been vanquished.

Once inside, the club’s massive bar is seen making tons of money from over-priced alcoholic beverages. The crowd, which is maxed out at 300, is jammed into close quarters. The solidified group becomes even more solidified.

Off to the left, opposite the bar, is a pseudo-loge of sorts with seats and mini-tables. This is where Kristal sits – a king on his throne. A security guard blocks overeager fans trying to grab an autograph. Kristal sits, hands atop his cane, silently waiting for Patti Smith to begin the concert.

Between the bar and Kristal, and all the way down a narrow corridor to the stage, is where the majority of people stand and drink. They’re crammed as close to the stage as they can get. Somewhere among the throng is a set of tables and chairs, but their location is lost in the melee.

The closeness breaks down all borders. Gray-haired rockers rub up against nerd-look-alike adorers. Leather-clad women up against jean-sported men. Foreign accents up against New Yawk-types.

On either side of the solidification are walls – claustrophobic, dirt-riddled, sticker-laden walls. Nearly every spot of real estate is covered with the many stickers and posters of concerts and bands that came before. Most of the graphic entries are from the last decade of CBGB’s existence – more Anthrax-induced than Talking Heads-inspired.

Some of the concertgoers peel off what they can. They shove the myriad of stickers into their pocket. Posterity is still the night’s theme.

The floor is sticky with tonight’s alcohol and what the audience hopes isn’t years of bodily fluid. Each step is accompanied by a “schlep,” as if everyone was stuck on duct tape. Pipes lined with chipped black paint hang from the ceiling. When CBGB opened, such rawness of architecture was a sign of impoverishment. Today, that same rawness has become fashionable.

The smell of the club is the complete opposite of newness. The 33 years of rock can be evidenced in each odor and aroma. It’s the smell of burnt-out cigarettes that have long been butted out. It smells like nothing and everything, something you quite can’t put your finger on. It smells like history, like a museum.

Mark De Gli Antoni of Soul Coughing says the odor is the “smell of wood that could never be cleaned again.”

Among the public-luckies are the inherent-luckies – celebrities who miraculously scored a ticket. Indie “it” girl Chloe Sevigny dances along outside the club, while Elijah Wood sucks on some beer. Papers report that filmmaker Edward Burns and musician-actor Stevie Van Zandt (“Little Stevie”) are among the crowd. But with the lights turned down and the alcohol turned up, everyone is on equal footing.

At 9:28 p.m. exactly, Patti Smith joins her band on stage. Her brunette hair is shoulder-length and messy. It’s her patented bed-head. She’s wearing a puffy white dress shirt with a skinny, black stripe down the middle. Over this get-up she wears a navy blue, patchy suit jacket that looks like she picked it up off the street. Her hard, androgynous features are softened by the glow of CBGB’s lights. As she approaches the microphone, she puts on a simple pair of circular glasses Teddy Roosevelt would be proud of.

*

Throughout the history of CBGB there have been countless bands. Some successful enough to undergo worldwide tours in arenas: Blondie, Green Day, AC/DC. Others more content to sell out smaller town halls: EverClear, Sublime.

Others made a big splash, broke up, and have since tried to reassemble the parts: Guns & Roses, the Police.

Some were prophetic and socially conscious: Chocolate Genius. Others were fun and lighthearted: Blues Traveler.

But among the innumerable musicians, there lies a constant appreciation and adoration for CBGB. Whether it’s Clem Burke, the drummer of Blondie, continuing to wear a CBGB t-shirt during his most recent tour with the New Cars, or famed country singer Alan Jackson extolling his one-night gig at CBGB in 2002 as one of his best, musicians continuously pay credence.

No band though appears more appreciative of CBGB’s creative freedom than the Shirts, who played the club in the 1970s alongside Television and the Talking Heads.

Today, the Shirts are back together again, after going on hiatus through much of the 1990s. They recently cut a new album, Only the Dead Know Brooklyn, which they recorded and officially released at CBGB in June 2006.

Ron Ardito, the guitarist and vocalist, says the Shirts would not have had the success they enjoyed without CBGB and Kristal’s commitment.

“Anybody that’s hung out at CBGB’s would never be whoever they are today without it,” he preaches.

Ardito was in attendance for the last concert with Patti Smith. Being there that night was like coming full circle.

“The first time I was there, I saw Patti Smith play, and the last time I was there, I saw Patti Smith play,” he says. “Made me cry the last night.”

Bob Racioppo, the bass player and vocalist for the Shirts, echoes Ardito’s memories. But the way Racioppo tells it, so matter-of-factly, exemplifies the mission of Kristal and CBGB.

“We lived in Brooklyn so we were in New York basically already,” Racioppo says. “Finally we went to see a gig at CB’s, and we saw Patti Smith. And they said they played originals here, and so we went up to Hilly, gave him a tape, and then we got a gig. And it was great to have a place to play originals.”

Ardito shares the same enthusiasm when remembering their audition.

“When we walked into CBGB’s, we knew that this is where we wanted to be,” Ardito says. “We went back to Brooklyn and was absolutely freaking out that we had the audition. When we came to the audition, we walked in with our relatively big equipment. At the time, we all had taken loans out and stuff because we had 200 watt Marshalls and big transistor amps…and Hilly said, ‘If you’re too loud, I’m pulling the plug.’ So we set up onstage, and we turned our amps facing the back wall so we wouldn’t be too loud, and we were scared of not being able to play there. And I guess somehow we played whatever we played, and he gave us a gig.”

Racioppo says they began playing regular shows at CBGB in 1977.
“Our first gig we played, it was the Shirts and Television, and we played two sets each,” he says. “We played Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday night straight through. It was great, you got so much playing in…And then our next gig maybe was the Talking Heads. And everyone was nobody then, it was really interesting looking back at it. We played there quite a lot.”

CBGB supplied the Shirts with a much needed venue to let out their musical anger. The band in the 1970s liked to be associated with “the streets of Brooklyn,” much like the Ramones were products of Queens. But from the streets, they needed direction. They needed a place to feel at home.

In CBGB, Racioppo says, they found “just the feeling of being accepted.”

With this acceptance came a decent amount of publicity for the band, but nothing made them happier then the first time they saw their names in The Village Voice.

“Suddenly we got The Village Voice and we opened it up, and we saw the Shirts in print,” he says. “And I remember one of the guys, one of the guitarists, Ronnie [Ardito], literally started running and just ran around the block, just ran around the block and came back because he was so excited.”

And with exposure came records deals for many of the bands, even for the Shirts, who were for a short time managed by Kristal himself.

“Everybody started to get signed,” Racioppo says. “It took us a while, we just kept playing and one night we were opening for a band called Deaf School from England. And Nick Mobbs from EMI just happened to be in the audience, and he just loved us. So he signed us, and that was sort of our break.”

The excitement of seeing newspaper blurbs and having studio honchos in the crowd looking for potential bands to sign seems like a cliché – part of a montage from a movie about Motown or the Beatles. But CBGB made these clichés a reality for many of their clientele.

Once accepted into the community, the Shirts became regulars, as performers, audience members and beer drinkers.

“We hung out all the time,” Ardito says. “We would rehearse all day, and then go to CBGB’s all night, whether we were playing or not…If you weren’t playing, you were in the audience. If you were playing, the other bands were in the audience, and musicians were just always there.”

“Everybody came to CBGB’s at that point,” he says. “You just came down, and we saw everybody…I saw Television. There were four of us in the audience, and they did I think, ‘Kingdom Come’ is the last song…It was like four o’clock in the morning and they just played, because they were artists. And they just played their show, and the four of us that were in there screamed at the top of our lungs to get them back to do an encore. And they came up, and played another song just for four people that wanted to hear them play another song.”

Racioppo chimes in as well remembering the breadth of talent on stage and in the audience. He says he remembers nights when David Bowie was in attendance as well as The Kinks’ Ray Davies. Other nights, Andy Warhol was the guest of honor, or Allen Ginsburg, or Mick Jagger, or Paul Simon. The list continues.

And, as is often the case with bands who reminisce about CBGB, credit is given to Kristal.

“It was an artist’s dream, it was a place where creativity was totally appreciated, and Hilly went with it totally,” Ardito says.

But with all of the virtuous remembering, Ardito also carries some unrest.

The Shirts were from the era of 1970s rock, which was a far cry from the 1980s and 1990s scenes.

“In those days, it was truly a great place before it became – I really hate to say this – but before, how do I put it to not sound condescending?” Ardito asks. “But the people that weren’t really artists, let’s say, the suburbanites started flooding into the place and didn’t get it, but just wanted to be a part of it. And then it started to become everyone’s sticking pins in their nose and stuff.”

Racioppo has similar thoughts, especially when it comes to CBGB closing up for good. He was sad to see it go, but happy to put it to rest at the same time.

“I think it did its thing,” Racioppo says. “It was just what it was. In a way, with it gone, it becomes even more legendary. Because now, it becomes mythical, because people can tell you stories. It’s like if James Dean lived as long as, let’s say, Marlon Brando. Marlon Brando got old and fat and everything…James Dean is more legendary.”

Ardito, 52, agrees, but views CBGB’s closing as evidence that he’s “getting old.” But even as the years tick away, Ardito, who also worked at CBGB as a soundman in the 1980s and 1990s, still covets his stories.

“I walked into work one day, and all of a sudden all of these cop cars pull up in front of the joint,” he waxes like a modern Aesop. “They were raiding the Palace Hotel upstairs [now the Bowery Residents’ Committee]…The Palace Hotel was a welfare kind of hotel, where a bunch of guys just slept in rows of cots. And it was a heavy crack house, they were dealing crack out of there. And all of a sudden I’m walking and I see 20 cops run up the stairs, and I was saying, ‘What the fuck?’ Out the window, it was raining vials of crack right onto my head.”

In the end, Racioppo sums up the Shirts and CBGB with a metaphor both fitting and as close to accurate as one can get.

“It was like a tidal pool,” he says. “It’s very hard to get a record deal and you have to be nurtured somewhere. How do you become good? You can’t go out into the major record companies being a teenager on the street in Brooklyn. CB’s was like a nurturing ground, a tidal pool…In nature, a little amphibian will get eaten by a shark. In a tidal pool, they can grow to a certain extent and then go out into the ocean and survive. CB’s was like this.

“When the Heads first started, Tina [Weymouth] really could barely play bass. She could barely hold the bass, and I remember every week she would get a little better and a little better and a little better, and then all of a sudden she was fantastic. But the first six months it was a growing process. CB’s allowed a lot of bands to really grow and become what they were, Patti Smith included.”

*

Patti Smith begins the concert with one of her earlier hits, a spoken word piece called “Piss Factory.” The drudgery and debacle of the lyrics brings the audience down a few notches. She’s reminding them that they’re in a place where magic can happen, as long as you pay your dues.

“Sixteen and time to piss off / I got this job in a piss factory inspecting pipe…Shoulder to shoulder sweatin’ 110 degrees / But I will never faint, I will never faint / They laugh and they expect me to faint but I will never faint / I refuse to lose, I refuse to fall down / Because you see it’s the monotony that’s got to me / Every afternoon like the last one”

Halfway through the song, Smith lets her inner punk out on a fan who has been clicking photographs ever since she began her chant.

“Get that fucking camera out of my face,” she yells, with a mug of anger.

The camera stops clicking. The audience cheers for the 59-year-old dirty mouth. She’s bad ass to the bone, even taking potshots at her own fans.

As the concert, which is being simulcast on Sirius Satellite Radio’s Sirius Disorder channel, rolls on, Smith often stops in the middle of songs complaining to the soundman.

“Too much feedback.”

“Too tinny.”

“Sounds like a stadium.”

“This night has been a true example of ‘Sirius Disorder’”

The audience eats up her need for perfection. The shoddy acoustics and constant restarting of songs adds to the aura of being in a dive club with what would appear a first-time performer. The entire concert reeks of the 1970s, as if CBGB had yet to be christened the underground Nostradamus it eventually became.

Smith picks up on the irony as well.

“It’s exactly how it was in 1974,” she says. “I am here to prove that we have not improved.”

Smith continues the concert with some of her classics, plus songs from the many other bands that either emerged during the era of CBGB or played the club themselves.

As Smith sings, she finds inspiration beneath her closed eyelids. Her performance is less rock goddess, and more shamanic. She doesn’t dance, so much as shake to some ethereal tribal beat. It’s like two concerts are happening at the same time: the music that the audience hears and mouths along to, and the symphony going on in Smith’s head.

Every so often she opens her eyes with piercing vigor. The white parts stare at the crowd making her look like a killer on the hunt.

When Smith is unsure of the lyrics to songs she’s covering, or even the lyrics of her own tomes, she has no qualms pulling out a sheet of paper to remind her. Many of her poetic-musings come from dictation off the piece of paper, even for some of her heavy rock songs. It’s as if the audience is assembled for a hardcore poetry reading, rather than a concert.

After each song, she rolls up the lyrics and throws them into the audience. Some lucky fan grabs the garbage and swoons. Posterity is still the night’s theme.

Smith pauses to tell a story about her and Lenny Kaye coming to CBGB on Easter Day in 1974 to see the then unknown band Television. Smith says the experience was eye-opening.

“It was one of the greatest nights of my life,” Smith says. “We salute Television.”

As the concert continues, the devoted begin to pull out secretly-stored away joints. Couples duck their head and light up near waist-level, so no security can see their antics. Once they raise their heads to eyesight, they look transported and glassy-eyed.

Smith sings “We Three,” “Distant Fingers,” and her plea to the Bush administration to stop the mistreating of suspected criminals in Guantanamo Bay, “Without Chains.” It wouldn’t be a Patti Smith concert without some agenda-pushing.

In the middle of the song she screams, “Close Gitmo prison now!”

As Smith begins “Ghost Dance,” Kristal sits in the back with dark shades, even though the sun has been down for hours. He exudes cool.

Before the intermission, Smith invites Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers to join her on stage and play bass for “Birdland.” His head strums up and down to each of his plucked chords

Following the song, Smith tells the audience her and the band will be back in “eight-and-a-half minutes.” They need a break, and she needs to pee.

During the intermission, more fans enter the pseudo-loge asking Kristal for an autograph and quick picture. Attendants pile in next to him smiling at the camera, as if they were posing with their grandfather. Kristal sits with hands still atop his cane.

The intermission gives people the chance to liquor up at the bar. Amstel Light, Heineken, and Bud are the beers of choice.

Fans continue to break the rules, without even thinking of the consequences: An attractive woman asks a portly gentleman for a cigarette. He obliges. She then asks for a light. He obliges again, as they stand next to a sign forbidding smoking.

*

At this point, with his club closed for over a month, Kristal still has a lot of anger in his heart for the people who either facilitated its closure or said they would help out, but didn’t.

First and foremost on Kristal’s list is his old landlord, the Executive Director of the Bowery Residents’ Committee Muzzy Rosenblatt. The dispute between Kristal and Rosenblatt lasted for years, ever since Rosenblatt took over the position at the BRC, which owns the building where CBGB used to thrive.

Court battles ensued, and allegations were made. But, in the end, when all was said and done, Kristal got the boot.

“When the lease is up, he has the right, no matter what you do,” he exhales from his lungs, like a defeated boxer.

Kristal also says Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s administration was supposed to help him find a new place for the club. But the options that were offered were unsuitable financially.

“Supposedly the mayor was supposed to help,” Kristal says. “[He offered] me a place on Essex and Delancey, but I had to have $5 million security. For a billionaire, I guess it’s not that much. It’s a shame, because I think our heritage is here.”

But coupled with Kristal’s anger is still the devotion and love for the performers he catered to. One of his treasured memories was the final concert at CBGB. When he talks of Patti Smith, it’s like a proud parent talking of an accomplished daughter.

“I enjoyed the concert,” Kristal says with a laugh as he remembers. “When I was sitting up on the balcony there, I was not disturbed by too many people. So it was nice.”

Kristal, who is looking down at his green fleece and faded denim jeans, becomes flustered for a second. He breaks from his memory…

“I think everything sinks in more afterwards,” he says.

Then, after a brief pause, he picks up again with the concert.

“I wanted to enjoy Patti,” he continues. “When I think of all the other bands that started, especially with female singers, I think she was one of the biggest influences, maybe the biggest influence.”

Then, Kristal can’t help himself. He lets his emotions get the best of him.

“You know even yesterday afternoon I started to feel a little despondent,” he says with a short-winded laugh. “You know, no more home. 32-and-a-half years, it’s a home. It’s more a home than my tiny little apartment. Everything revolved in my life around making it work and being there. And the people came in and the changes and everything. My life revolved around that. You feel it more afterwards.”

Since closing, Kristal has packed up as much of the club as he could and placed it in storage in Brooklyn. Wherever and whenever he opens up again, he plans on reassembling the club to look like the original.

In the meantime, to make some extra money, CBGB has started to auction off parts of the club on eBay that didn’t make the storage cut.

An 11” x 15” emergency light box decorated with stickers recently sold for $310. Several pairs of stools sold for varying amounts. Their description on the online auction Web site at first reads like a liability: “They have been banged up, graffitied and covered with stickers.” But once the prospective bidder realizes where the wear and tear came from – “These chairs have barely survived the multitude of punk rock shows and historic final concerts” – nostalgia sets in.

*

At 11:04 p.m., Smith and the band take the stage again for their second act. She quickly plunges into a cover of the Dead Boys’ “Sonic Reducer.”

While jamming out to the mantra, “I’m a sonic reducer / Ain’t no loser”, Smith bops up and down with Flea by her side. Smith is usually called the female Bob Dylan, for her haunting lyrical poetry. But in tonight’s performance, she looks like a female Jim Morrison, trying to summon Indian chiefs for inspiration and guidance.

She hunches her back and plays to the ground often. But before looking up from her talismanic position, she sways up and down like a possessed spirit.

The acoustics bounce off the walls: not too loud, not too low.

“CBGB was the best sounding club ever from the audience point-of-view,” Ardito of the Shirts says. “When you were out in the audience, it sounded great.”

“Redondo Beach,” “Free Money,” and “Pissing in a River” are played, letting the audience know this concert will be no two-hour affair. Smith and her band plan on acclimating CBGB’s history for three to four hours.

While Smith does her shaman impression, her bandmates let loose in their own manner. Lenny Kaye, Smith’s longtime guitarist, supplies higher pitched vocals to his lead singer’s bass voice. The reversal of gender roles is jarring at first, but after repetition, becomes melodiously appropriate.

Next up, Smith decides to make the concert special. This isn’t just another stop on a worldwide tour. Tonight is a eulogy. She respects the sanctity of the night with fan favorites and odes to more CBGB bands.

She begins with her personal take on the Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter,” all the while pointing an index-finger gun at the audience. The irony of playing beneath a homeless shelter is lost on the crowd, they’re just happy to hear the familiar lyrics: “War, children, it’s just a shot away / It’s just a shot away…Ooh, see the fire is sweepin’ / Our very street today / Burns like a red coal carpet / Mad bull lost its way”

Next up is “Space Monkey,” which is dedicated to REM lead singer Michael Stipe. Once finished, the band speedily revs up a medley of covers from the Ramones: “Blitzkrieg Bop,” “Beat on the Brat,” “Rock and Roll Radio,” and “Sheena is a Punk Rocker” are all included. During the litany, Smith takes a break at the side of the stage to dance by herself, but not before shouting to the crowd, “Hey, Ho! Let’s Go! Hey, Ho! Let’s Go!”

In between these later songs, Kristal vacates his spot on the pseudo-loge. The night is getting long for him. His seat is quickly filled by actor, Elijah Wood.

The persistence does not stop once the medley is completed. There are more songs before the encore: “Ain’t It Strange,” “So You Wanna Be a Rock and Roll Star,” “Babelogue,” the controversial “Rock and Roll Nigger,” The Yardbirds’ “For Your Love,” and The Who’s “My Generation.”

By the end of the songs, Smith is visually spent. So is the audience. Eulogizing has never been so tiring and awe-inspiring.

*

CBGB fostered originality, but by no means was it an independent paradigm.

In Los Angeles there is an Eden-ish neighborhood populated with eucalyptus trees and windy roads called Laurel Canyon.

High atop this mini-mountain is where American folk music flourished. The likes of Joni Mitchell, the Mamas and the Pappas, Crosby, Stills, & Nash, and Frank Zappa lived, smoked pot, and made themselves into iconoclasts on this Mecca overlooking West Hollywood.

Laurel Canyon’s ascension in the 1960s is much like the rise of CBGB in 1970s Manhattan.

“Musicians need to breathe the same air, whether it’s the feted air at CBGB’s or the beautiful eucalyptus-scented air at Laurel Canyon,” says Michael Walker, author of “Laurel Canyon: The Inside Story of Rock and Roll’s Legendary Neighborhood.” “You get people together, the locale becomes sort of psycho-geographically important to the art that’s made.”

Although Laurel Canyon is a maze of hilltop avenues and CBGB was a dive club, they both produced and promoted creative growth in a time of bleakness.

“It can be as small as a club or as big a neighborhood or in some cases a whole city,” Walker says. “The locale definitely has something to do with it.”

The story of Laurel Canyon and the Lower East Side of Manhattan have many parallels. Both neighborhoods are examples of rags-to-riches sections of major cities, and the backbone of each area’s rebirth was some sort of artistic endeavor. The specifics are tertiary, folk music or punk rock is a mere tomato-tomatto dilemma. The underlying theme is one of creative expression being respected.

“[Laurel Canyon] had a tradition of welcoming sort of iconoclastic artists,” Walker says. “In the ‘20s, this is where the more adventuresome silent movie stars lived. When Norman Mailer moved to Los Angeles in the ‘40s briefly, he lived in Laurel Canyon. When Robert Mitchum got busted for pot in 1948, it was at a little house on Ridpath [Drive] in Laurel Canyon.”

Then the 1960s hit the canyon, and much like the Lower East Side, the initial days of the new decade were riddled with impoverishment and dilapidation.

“In the early 1960s, the neighborhood had gotten a little bit seedy,” Walker says. “A lot of the houses were going into rentals at that point. It was cheap to live here… The leading vanguard of the people that were inspired by the folk movement were at the time basically going broke in New York, in Washington D.C….and they really were not making it so they all moved little by little. They kind of tumbled into Los Angeles as their last hope.”

But from the pits grew a phoenix – first on the West Coast and then on Hilly’s doorstep.

“These people were at the end of their rope, and so they were desperate and they really, really wanted to make it,” Walker says. “And they ended up in the same neighborhood together. It’s like a bunch of ‘A’ students making up the same classroom.”

As the canyon gained character, musicians as varied as Steppenwolf, the Doors, and the Turtles set up camp.

And as the stars aligned, as they did a few years later at 313 Bowery, artists began to feed off one another’s talents and ambitions.

“If you put all those people who were that ambitious and that talented in one place together, not only are they going to start influencing each other, but they all played together,” Walker says. “There was a great sense at the beginning of camaraderie and sharing…They definitely loved to influence each other, they loved to turn each other on to the next big thing.”

*

Quick bows are taken, but the audience stays put. They know the drill. They clap and cheer, knowing full well the band will reappear for an encore set.

Smith and the band do not disappoint.

They enter into pure punk rock, by playing some of the songs and covers that put them on the map. Included are “Land” and “Gloria.”

Smith’s final song is “Elegie,” which she plays shortly after 1 a.m. Before beginning its lyrics, Smith pays credence to the man who started it all.

“Thank you Hilly for everything,” she says.

The audience breaks into a sports arena-esque chant.

“Hilly! Hilly! Hilly!”

Smith looks down, summoning her tribal god. She slowly takes off her glasses, as the guitar begins.

“I just don’t know what to do tonight / My head is aching as I drink and breathe / Memory falls like cream in my bones, moving on my own / There must be something I can dream tonight / The air is filled with the moves of you / All the fire is burning and still, I have the will / Trumpets, violins, I hear them in the distance / And my skin emits a ray, but I think it’s sad, it’s much too bad / That all our friends can’t be with us today”

Smith puts on her glasses and looks down at a piece of paper to name singers who’ve played CBGB, but have since died.

Smith pauses, she begins to break up as she utters her original pianist’s name.

“Richard Sohl.”

She finishes with the three names the audience is waiting for.

“Johnny, Joey, and Dee Dee Ramone. Today…”

She takes off her glasses.

“… today.”

Someone yells from the audience, “You forgot one.”

“Who?”

“Fred!” they yell, meaning her late husband, Fred “Sonic” Smith.

Smith can’t understand the crowd. She turns to Lenny Kaye to clarify. He does. “They’re all in there,” she soothingly says. “We remember everything. Well good night everybody. Farewell CBGB’s. 33 years is the same age as Jesus. Thank you, Hilly. Good night, everybody.”

Ardito cried as these last words were said from CBGB’s stage. But the night wasn’t quite over yet.

“I stood outside until, I don’t know, 5 a.m. and watched them tear down the awning that covered CBGB’s,” Ardito says. “They came out with ladders, I don’t know, maybe 200 people just standing there. It was like a vigil. There was dead silence. It was like a vigil, and then they just tore it down.”

*

Kristal says he occasionally walks by the old club.

“I pass by a few times,” he says, trying to think of the best words. “It’s closed. The gates are down.”

While talking, Kristal likes to strum his fingers as if he were holding onto a guitar. The motion helps him remember his own musician days and it also releases some of the pain he feels from the chemotherapy.

As he strums a guitar that’s not there, Kristal talks about a book he’s reading. His descriptions of its pages are simple, but profound in its parallels.

“I’m reading an interesting book on Mozart,” he says. “I mean we all know about all the wonderful composers, but my God. It gets very deep into how he composed things and when it gets into especially his opera, which is not my favorite, it’s very interesting. As a teenager he really was so mature, yet so sensitive to people. Quite amazing, you can see where the genius is.”

But once again he breaks away, short of breath. He is unable to finish his descriptions.

“It’s quite an interesting book,” he says. “But I mean, that’s that.”

Kristal, cane in hand, dark shades atop his nose, sits back in his reclining office chair and remembers the old days.

“Two years ago I could run around, now I need a cane to keep my balance, so it’s not that enjoyable,” he says of his wilting body.

“[CBGB] has a lot of good meaning for people: of getting together, of playing music together,” he says of his wilting club. “You know it’s a very good thing we need these days…When people play on the same stage, they don’t care who they are. There’s a certain respect they have for each other, and they enjoy playing the same stage…Whether it’s a Christian band or a Muslim band, it doesn’t matter, black band, Puerto Rican band. I think the music transcends a lot of things, especially as long as they’re allowed to do their own thing.”

*

The metal curtains that usually signify a store is closed for the night are permanently down at 315 Bowery. They are padlocked, never to ascend again.

The only thing remaining from the infamous CBGB overhang is a metal skeleton frame. Passersby walk under it not knowing its history, just thinking it’s another failed business.

At CB’s Gallery next door, an empty space can be seen through the metal curtain. There are still bumper stickers over a few of the walls. One states: “CBGB & OMFUG HOME OF UNDERGROUND ROCK”

On the floor are empty Poland Spring water bottles, an extension cord, a ladder, a couch, and a beer bottle. It looks like a rock star’s trashed hotel room.

Another sign points to a checkroom no longer there, and an extra bathroom already gone.

On the brick wall between CBGB and CB’s Gallery is black graffiti, some pseudo-artist’s personal moniker.

To the left of CBGB’s old entrance is a glass door that has a sign for the Bowery Residents’ Committee and their Project Rescue. Homeless gentlemen stand outside taking long drags from their burning cigarettes.

The only noise is from passing traffic on nearby Houston Street and the many ghosts both living and dead.

red your blog must be time consuming and taxing but let me thank you for you efforts and time you writings and views are unique special my friend and amazing if you ned help with this so it can continue i with be glad to edit out the pap but if you do end this many many thanks for this walk thru life as we knew it ty ty ty coach

I grew up on 16th street between 8th and 9th avenues. Went to Holy Name School, worked part time in Associated food, Parish Deli and Rudy’s candy store next to Mom and Pop pizza and the post office on the cornor of 16th st. Sanders Move House 2 movies cartoon shorts went in at 1pm got out around 6pm. Park house resturant, Langdons Bar and grill the wife out the Ice Cream store on the left use to sit there with my Grandparents Leo and Ruth Kittredge. I remember Holy Name schoolyard you had the small covered walkway from the school to the Church so you wouldn’t get wet.

You had Wetters that became Bobby’s, Coyne’s dry cleaning Morty’s hard ware, Trunz’s meats, Ray and Ottos, Ballards, Candy Joe next To Coyne’s,
Ebenger’s Bakery and there was one across the street next To Ballard.

Hey, Richie!
Have not been keeping up on Container’s diaries. It seemed as though many of the writer’s were from a later time. Great memories of 443 16th Street. My mom is still alive and living in Staten Island with my Brother Jim and his wife. I am sure she will be happy to hear that I heard from you on Container Diaries. What are you up to these days? I am living Washington State. Moved out in the early 70’s. Oh, My the Lordi’, Mancinelli’s Hopkins, Porkoneys, Buzzo’s playing stoop ball, “What’s in the ice box today?, Red rover,Red rover I call…over! Buck, Buck. Ah, what joyous times!

Lots of names missing The Green’s being one of them. It was the Homan’s that seemed to have taken over 431 and 437. We were in 433 and moved to the circle 67. The family had Dolores, Mary Ellen, Danny, Joe, me and the youngest Regina.

I used to hang out on Parkside (South West) benches with a bunch of people from about 1968 to about 1971. We called ourselves the Parkside Kids. Oh does that sound so “not cool” now!!!! So many people came and went during those years. Some died, some moved away, and some are still there. I stay in touch with many of the girls I used to hang with but still wonder about so many others like Cathy Dugdale, Ursula, Georgianne, Wally, and Buddy Cox.
I went to Holy Name and had Donna Ryan in my classes. Any one remember her? I’m trying to remember more of them but there were so many and it was so many years ago. Guess I better up my Ginko dosage. It really is nice though, strolling down memory lane. I really like this site.

Thanks for writing, and ‘The parkside kids’ is a great name; totally cool! I like it a lot. Just gave me an idea actually for my book that I am writing about my teenage days growing up on 9th avenue from 1977 to 1982 ish…

Hi All,
After reading almost all of the comments from the very first one, I noticed Bobby Lamb’s name popping up from time to time. I was a very good fried of Bobby’s and one of his very first girlfriends at age 13 – circa 1966 –
As we got older, we remained friends throughout the years. He and his wife, Peggy, and me and my (then) husband Joe became very good friends. Bobby’s death was my first real shocker and I guess I just want to get the right story about it out to all of you.
He died in Lake Tahoe. It was July 20th 1982. He rode cross country on his Harley with a friend from Sherman St. (don’t know if he wants his name mentioned, so I won’t). They rented a boat and Bobby fell off the stern of the boat. His groin was severed by the blades on the motor and he bled to death before they could get him to the hospital. He was only 29 years old.
Most of his family lived upstate NY and so Joe & I put them up (about 10 people) in our 1 bedroom home in Bensonhurst until the wake & funeral were over. Though that was a very sad ending for a wonderful friend’s life, we will still carry very pleasant and very funny thoughts of him and the outrageous things he did.
Glad I can share that with you and thanks for reading.

Roe, its Betty, Billy Campbells friend, I just read him what you had written and he gave me an update for you and he says to say Hi. Mi chael Greco is living down Coney Island are and moved there about 5 yrs ago, Michael G. lives in bayridge, Ursula, is still good friends with Kathy B, and Maureen R, and they all were at the Holy Name reunion 4 yrs ago, and as of next year will be the 2nd one on APRIL 10 2010, so keep that date opened, what a great time to see everyone, 1st one had 1500 people and this one is gonna big bigger. Buddy is in cleveland Ohio and is doing good, talked to him about last yr. Ro, take care and be safe and keep that date open to see all the oldies .

Hi Betty and thanks for getting back to me. Please tell Billy I said Hi and am looking forward to seeing everyone again one day. Maybe I’ll make it back to NY in April for the reunion.

I moved to Florida in 1998 and re-married a good-old-native Floridian. I got my Florida state License to build single family homes and was doing quite well for a while there, but when the economy crashed, so did our business. My husband is a crane operator now and I opened a small jewelry business not far from our home. I cut and polish rough gemstones and my husband wire wraps them in sterling silver. It’s a new business but I think we’ll make it.

We built a two story home about 3 years ago so we could have my folks live with us because they lost their home in Hurricane Charley. It’s a big home. 3400 square feet. My folks are on the first floor, me and hubby on the top.

Well take care for now and thanks again for the reply.

OH!!! One more question please. If you know of anyone who has any where-abouts of Bobby Lamb’s brother Wayne, please let me know. I have a leather vest of Bobby’s that I’d like to give to Wayne’s son, Peter Max.

Thanks for the memories, Rich Buzzo. Manyof my nieces and nephews grew up on your block. That block was so full of energy all the time, morning, noon, and night. Especially in the summertime.

Now I think of the lonely isolated kids in their big suburban McMansions, with closets full of clothes and toys and electronics out the kazoo. Tweeting and facebooking and IM’ing until they are blue in the face–with nary a real contact, face-to-face, with one other kid, let alone a hundred.

Does anybody here remember John Stewart? I just heard that he’s very I’ll, and can’t get any information about him. Any responce will be appreciated. Being out in the Mid West, I don’t get much information. Thanks.

Hey Gary C.– How are you and Eddie doing ? It’s been almost a year since we talked. How far are you guys upstate ? I’m in Goshen and I’d be willing to take the ride to see you guys. For the next couple of months, i’ll be off monday/tuesday/wednesday or tues/wed/thurs. Get back to me when you can.

I just found this site. Wow, familiar names. I wanted to reply to Steve Volastro about his Dad. I have been trying to find out where Mr. Volastro was and I was saddened to hear he past away. I would like to speak to Steve about his Dad. For me, he was the greatest teacher I ever had and I owe him a lot for his teaching, his leadership and his role in my life. I have nothing but respect for him and I wish I was able to let him know this personally. It is rare someone can influence people the way he did. Steve, if you google my name, you will be able to reach me via phone or email and I would like to talk with you.

I seen a lot of names here that I remember. That was a long time ago and I visit the old neighborhood once in a while, but like to talk to everyone again. It would be so nice to see a reunion of the old Holy Name crew. I did hang out on Parkside, 10th Ave and the Holy Name School yard.

I believe there is one in April at Bishop Ford. Holy Name is also having a get together I believe next weekend. Let me find the info or if you scroll back a few weeks, I posted a notice on the front of the blog.

An icon from Park Slope in the 1960’s has passed from the life, Ricky Patino. So many stories to share about a man, who never lost his sense of adventure or humor to shock your senses! Using his amplifier propped in his window on fifteenth street, he attached his microphone. Blaring out,”This is the voice of God!” only to find a policeman listening right down in the street by Rick’s front door. “I will be right up!” Luckily, Rick’s Italian grandmother answered the door and feigned her ignorance of English. Italiano!
Another time, a friend came out to show the first hair he had on his chest, Ricky ( a thick dark hairy Italian) said, “Let me see.” He promptly pulled the hair out!

Catching the F train into Manhattan for work, you tried not to sit near Ricky because you never knew what he would do. My favorite episode happenned with Ricky running down the stairs to catch the train when the doors closed with Ricky on the platform and his glasses on the train.

He loved to climb. Clamboring up the monuments flanking the entrances into Prospect Park covering them with toilet paper.

Hope others will be able to add their memories about this larger than life person. Rick, we will never forget you.

richie krumbholz, worked in the windsor pub, a couple of moons ago, played football with ya in the league mcbears and farrells was in,, with kenny, ray tommy, and a bunch of others. also hung out on the parkside

iv’e been good, living on staten island for about 17 yrs now, haven’t really ran into anyone in a while, i am pretty sure kenny lives on staten island also, heard that from john corrar, but not sure were, kenny’s brother,steve lives not to far from me, i think tommy still lives down around court street, john sarris lives in florida with his family, i think ray collura lives in new jersey, i heard he usally attends different things in the neighborhood when they have them, i still go back to the neighborhood my parents are still there, but it has changed from when we hung out there lol,

I am in NJ, western part of the state on the PA border. I do a lot of traveling for work. I have not seen anyone in years. I stop by in Brooklyn once in a while. I usually do a run in to the Pork Store on 11th ave. I would like to get to the reunion, do you have any info on it? Do you have any email addresses for anyone?

I am sorry to read of Ricky Patino’s passing, I remember him well, although we never really hung out. I used to see him in the Head Shop on the circle, if I am not mistaken, he used to carry around a big old radio.

Haven’t been to this site in quite a while and came across the post about Ricky Patino. He was indeed an icon on the circle in the late ’60’s and early 70’s, a very gentle guy capable of doing the most outrageous things. Once payed a lot of money for a helicopter ride over the city early one day just so he could see what it looked like. He played a pretty good banjo, too.

RIP Ricky

I noticed posts about a reunion. Someone sent me this new site which might help:

My name is Susan (Crescente), DeSocio. I graduated Holy Name 1980. I am tying to locate Joey Corrar”s sister. Joey and I had an unique relationship, and as a writer, I wrote Joey a poem, which I read when I featured last May, 2009. The sisters said they would show up at the reading. but as I understand it, one of the sisters passed away around the same time. I am going to featured at Barnes & Noble on 7th Ave. It will be June 24th at 6 o”clock. If you would like to read a sample of my special “Brooklyn” kind of writing go to brooklyn-usa/poetry.htm. You will recogniize many of the places, events, and people..Just scroll down until you see my name, Susan DeSocio. AKA Susie Creamcheese. Joey’s sister please call, I’m in the book. Love to all .

the web site for my brooklyn poem is http://www.brooklyn-usa/poetry.htm If you google brooklyn poetry, I believe it’s the second or third site. It will say it’s Marty Markowitch”s site for poetry as he is the one who picked Ken Siegelman as our Brooklyn Poet Laureate 7 yyears back Ken was my mentor for about 3 months before he passed in June 2009. We now have a new poet laureate. I’d love to readyour memoir, tel me, what’s the title. Peace, love and understanding to all. susan

i graduated Holy Name in 1970, just getting use to new computer. And I can’t believe no one read “Brooklyn Rant #1” As for Joey’s Corrar’s sister, if some one could get word to her that I’d like to speak with her, I am in the telephone book. Remember those? Susan DeSocio How can it be a duplicate copy. I’ve added information to this comment. How about this does anyone remember “American Woman”?

Does anyone remember the name of the black matron who worked in the 11th Street playgound. This would be around the late 50’s and early 60″s. Sje was the first black woman I ever met and she was the sweetest person. Susan

How great to hear from you Eddie Vericker! It was great playing baseball both at Bishop Ford and Holy Name with you. Brian, Michael and Maureen Hopkins are now family to me as my brother Denis is married to Maureen. Glad to say they are all doing fine. Saw Johnny Bies, the Trapp family and many others at the Reunion last Sat. night.
All the bestest to you Ed, by the way, I was ‘safe” at 2nd base when I broke my leg and ankle!
Eddie Keyes

Susan, I tried to find your number with no success, but you can e-mail me at Red552mimi@aol.com , and I can put you in touch with Margaret, you are right, Teashie died a year ago today. Margaret is definitely interested in coming to your reading, so please contact me.

Thanks for writing Patricia, I appreciate you stopping and adding your comment. You guys always had a strong following down Breezy. I’d write about it, but don’t know too much about it. Just know that a lot of people from the neighborhood went there in the summer.

Your blog is great.. It’s stated above that the reason of your blog is to rekindle some form of communication and capture the Golden Years of growing up in Windsor Terrace in the 60′s, 70′s and even the 80′s, in what way you can do that? By the way thanks for sharing your blog.

January 24, 2011 will make two years since the death of my mentor and famed F Street hockey player Anthony Incarbone. I hope was can all take a moment on that day to say a prayer and remember what he meant to each of us. I only knew him for a few months but he had a major impact on my life. I have promised that I will do something he would have wanted me to do – go to a Bikram Yoga class and kick my butt. I will do it in his honor, but for myself, as he would have wanted. We miss you Anthony and I am positive that you are teaching yoga in heaven.

Hey.. Just found this site! Still need to read all the posts, but I’m hoping someone on here can help me find Franny Napoli. We went out from 1977-1980. I’m trying to let him know of an event happening this summer.

I’ve tried all the last known phone numbers and addresses, but no luck. If anyone has heard from him lately or knows how to get in touch, please e-mail me at desmond124@msn.com.

I feel too old perhaps but the Spanish Store on 17th Street was a fav of my pops. We used to live just down the road. Im a too old now? but where have the great days gone? Its as if the world will never be the same.

Eddie was the drummer for “Brew” (neighborhood band from the 70’s) Brew was Eddie, Richie & Dennis Orlando,
Vinny Conlon & Willy LeComte.
He was nicknamed “Steady Eddie” by Prospect Park
Bandshell Director.
He was currently residing @ Bayonne, NJ.

I just got back from a wake, Steve. An old friend from Windsor Terrace, Denny Scully passed away. It happened fast, and I heard about it from a message his brother John left on my phone. The one night wake (Sept 22) was out in Bellmore on Long Island. I grew up in the late 40’s and 50’s, and into the 60’s in Windsor Terrace. And I still go home again, sometimes writing about it for newspapers, and in a play, Stoopdreamer”, about what that amazingly, special neighborhood was all about to me.

Denny Scully was an important part of my memories of growing up on “The Hill. “ The Scully family lived down on 16th Street near the armory, and during the late 50’s and early 60’s he and his brother John were part of a group that hung out on the corner of 17th Street and 9th Avenue. Every summer afternoon would turn into a carnival of street sounds, stickball games, dice games against the wall, card games on the metal, cellar doors, the King Kong ride swinging its huge carriage through the summer air, and all the while the large speakers on the front of it blasting out the Everly Brothers singing “Cathy’s Clown.” All of us with slicked back hair, and upturned collars, just happy to be young. It was our time in Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn, and it seemed like it would last forever. I often wondered what ever happened to all the pretty girls who were part of that world.

Holy Name, the church, the school, Farrell’s Bar, the other Irish bars that were once on 9th Avenue and down on the corners of 10th Avenue, Prospect Park, Jack the Wonder Dairy’s store on the corner of 17th Street, Izzey’s Soda shop a few doors away, the church bazaar’s in the school yard of Holy Name where you could win a new Chrysler on a quarter chance, the movie houses, the Sanders, the Globe, the 16th Street, the Avon, the Prospect, the Minerva, the Venus down on Prospect Avenue, reading comic books in a booth in Al’s luncheonette on Prospect Avenue in a time that seemed so innocent to me, Gus’s Diner on the corner of 19th Street and 9th Avenue, Frank‘s Pizza across the street, the “Lucky Penny” variety store on the corner of 18th Street, the barber shop next to it with its striped pole out front, the red brick of the buildings, Scarpa’s on the other side, where we brought jelly apples in the fall; all of it once existing undisturbed, like a scene from an Edward Hopper painting, all before Robert Moses ran the Prospect Expressway through there, all bits and pieces of my life, all bits and pieces of who I turned out to be.

This too was Denny Scully’s Windsor Terrace. Later, when we were older, he hung out in Kerrigan’s Bar on 17th Street with us. This was the Windsor Terrace of Alice Murray, Tommy Purdy, Jacky Malone, Bobby Rice, John Scully, Tommy McLaughlin, Richie and Mickey Lang, and so many others like the Craig‘s, the McCarthy’s, the McGill’s, the Burke’s, all of it making up the hub of one of the greatest Irish working-class neighborhoods in Brooklyn.

In memory, where it still lives on, this was the Windsor Terrace of Holy Name Church before Vatican Two, before they tore out all the beautiful marble from the altar and the black, metal railings where you kneeled down for holy communion, before they painted over the murals that depicted the crucifixion in the dark green and red hues of a Renaissance painting, before they tore out all the dark stained, imported wood, it was a time when the crowds that filled the church during seasonal novenas were so big, they had to seat people on the altar.

Yesterday afternoon, I said goodbye to someone who was an important part of my memory of that Windsor Terrace. I was glad to have Bob Rice standing next to me.

Dennis Scully was he tall and very good looking? He dated someone very close to me . I was 15 and all of a sudden I am being picked up from behind on 5th Avenue near Michael’s furniture store. I found myself trying to turn around to see who has picked me up in his arms and it was Dennis Scully.
He was a very nice guy. Sorry that you lost a good friend.
Kay Fanning

Hey what a great site, found this trying to google an old friend Myles Corrigan. I spent 18 months with him in Crete, while in the RAF.
I spent a few days visiting your old neighborhood in 1979. Had some beers at Ferrals. I remember meeting his mom Mary on howard place, and going to see his grandmother across from prospect park.http://www.autokeybot.com/ Funny thing was when we knocked on her door, and Morley identified himself, there was a series of about seven locks opening before the door opened. I live in Montana where we lock almost nothing. this left a memory i’ve never forgotten. Any way I haven’t heard from Myles in years, If anyone out there see’s him tell him I wish him well.

STOOPDREAMER & OTHER WINDSOR
TERRACE STORIES
by
PAT FENTON
Journalist and playwright, Pat Fenton, will take us back to his old neighborhood reading a scene from his play about a lost part of Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn, once a teeming, tight-knit, Irish and Italian blue-collar neighborhood that existed near 17th Street and 9th Avenue before Robert Moses drove the Prospect Expressway through the very heart of it in 1953, and divided it forever.

In his play, Fenton intimates the dreams, trials and travails of just ordinary people trying to find the American dream in post WWII Windsor Terrace, among them a cop who really wanted to be a writer, a movie projectionist at the Sanders Theatre whose life is defined by the continuance of movie reels as he waits for the changeover mark, a 9th Avenue pool hustler whose small piece of the American dream, two weeks summer vacation over a Rockaway saloon, Fitzgerald’s, is dangerously gambled one night, and a beautiful dreamer named Janice Joyce who tried to go home again and almost made it, Irish American stories about an area that was once the hub of one of the greatest, Irish working-class neighborhoods in Brooklyn.

Hey Steve, thought I would send this along to Container Diaries to let your readers know I’m doing a short ten minute reading from a scene in my play about our old neighborhood, “Stoopdreamer and Other Windsor Terrace Stories.”

I’ll be up in Manhattan at the Cell Theatre at 338 West 23rd Street on January 17 at 7 P.M.. Admission is free. I’ll be part of an evening of creative bits and pieces from plays, novels in progress, comedy, and musical entertainment.

All put up by the Irish American Writers and Artists Salon which I am a part of. Sure wish you could be there.

Yo yo yo– I grew up on 17th between ppw (Aja 9th ave) and 10th…I remember the “stretchemeys” home an old Victorian style home sitting on an 1/8th of the block with woods and a tall grey wooden fence with 2 elderly lady residents.if your ball went over the fence you would either hop the fence or ring the bell and hope someone would let you in..the house was right out of “Arsenic and old lace” ironically similar to the home my wife, I and our kids live in in Fiske Terrace in Flatbush..viva Brooklyn viva “The Mission” — winsldsor terrace!

The frat dances we would go to until late then we would go to chinatown and pick a fight with the locals. One time we got out of the car and a shitload of guys came at us and we were jamming back in the car and it barely started as we got away and over the bridge.

Hi Everyone, Met Mary Trapp at our bbc the other day and she told me about this site. I grew up during the 50s & 60s, first at 430 Prospect Ave., then on 15th between 5th & 6th, then on 12th St between 8th and Prospect Park W., and finally to NJ. Went to HN grammar school, St. Brenda’s HS, and hung out at Lewnie’s (spell?).

Create your dreams & achieve your goals from the realization, that you hold all the power within you and paint those achievements passionately from every color in the spectrum. ♥ I Love You – Sir David Harrison Levi – Starmaker Goodwill Ambassador Emeritus for World Peace & Breast Cancer Awareness – author – philosopher – humanitarian – philanthropist

I remember cracking up laughing with my best friend Karen Mcgee in the back of Holy Name Church where in 8th grade, I thought it was cool to stand in the back. Watching the boys play hockey in the schoolyard – madly in love with Jimmy Sturges. As a little kid, going into the butcher’s and Tony DePinto always giving me a delicious slice of bologna. Walking to school everyday with Rosella Lauro. Brother John, Miss Murphy and Sister Jane!

Jeannette, my darling daughter, the name is Pinto, Tony Pinto. I remember him when he was a young boy and made deliveries for United Meat Market. Gus was the owner. My mom loved him. He really was a nice guy.